Every now and then, a visual prompt is just the thing to get me out of a writing slump. These photos of Idaho — yes, Idaho — have already generated some ideas. Pick one and write its 1,000 words.
14 images that prove Idaho might be the most underrated state in America – Matador Network
http://matadornetwork.com/notebook/14-images-prove-idaho-might-underrated-state-america/
Isn’t it romantic?
Years ago, a friend of mine gave me a grocery bag full of romance novels. She loved them and was sure I would too. After reading most of the books in the brown paper bag, I understood the basic plot lines, the key euphemisms, and the general nature of the character development. I gave the books to someone else and I haven’t read any more. While it’s not my genre, some of my friends love to write it. In this interview, Lisa Kleypas shares lessons from her 30 years of writing romance novels.
An Interview With Historical Romance Legend Lisa Kleypas.
http://jezebel.com/an-interview-with-historical-romance-legend-lisa-kleypa-1703917812
You can’t mean that!
I remember assigning Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” in a composition course for college freshmen. One of the students who read it was aghast at the idea of selling children as food. Somehow she’d missed the satire. It’s tough to pull off good satire in writing, where it shouldn’t be necessary to add cues (wink, wink, nod). Here’s an example that’s newer than the 1700s, and not in The Onion.
Scientists: Earth Endangered by New Strain of Fact-Resistant Humans – The New Yorker.
http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/scientists-earth-endangered-by-new-strain-of-fact-resistant-humans
To write well
I remember reading On Writing Well — parts of it, anyway — in college. Zinsser offered valuable tips. It’s sad to hear he’s died. It may be time to take another look at the book.
William Zinsser, Author Of ‘On Writing Well,’ Dies At 92.
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/7270170
Pack up
Last year, before I went to Italy, I spent a lot of time looking for the best travel writing tips. But I had forgotten that merely traveling is a way to improve one’s writing. This sensationally-headlined blog post (super-sexy?) does offer several good reasons for getting away. And now I have a couple of trips I need to plan.
The Simple, Super-Sexy, Science-Backed Way to Improve Your Writing Skills.
http://writetodone.com/improve-your-writing-skills/
sharon p. lynn 