Comments on: My Five Favorite Pieces of Writing Advice

By: C. C. Harrison

C. C. Harrison — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 02:26:30 +0000

My first desk was my kitchen counter in Craneridge, NY. I started out writing for confession magazines! Great fun, good money back then, paid for new skis and season passes for everyone every year. Now I have a dedicated office and write every day. I am blessed.

By: Colleen Oakley

Colleen Oakley — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 18:59:18 +0000

In reply to Jacqueline Horsfall. Ha! I love that!

By: Jacqueline Horsfall

Jacqueline Horsfall — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 16:52:41 +0000

My first desk was banged-up boards nailed together, propped on two elementary school desks. Which held my typewriter (yes, you read that right).

By: Suzanne M. Brazil

Suzanne M. Brazil — Sun, 05 Jul 2015 17:29:33 +0000

My favorite thing is when my favorite things are other people’s favorite things! I loved both books you mentioned and have a desk that my carpenter husband made for me last year – with a $5 piece of wood from the hardware store, some grey paint and free metal legs he had stuffed in the garage. I treasure it and it’s tiny and cheap. And thank you for the image of you writing in the living room while your kids are watching TV! I feel like a real writer when I’m parked in my car on my lunch hour, under a tree, editing the next chapter of my draft. Very encouraging words – thanks so much for sharing!

By: Barbara Oliverio

Barbara Oliverio — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 15:43:49 +0000

I, too, am a great fan of Stephen King’s book and the section you mentioned resonated with me as well. I long agonized over not having a “proper” writer’s desk, and have come to find out that some of my best work has come at my cramped little “temporary” desk, or on my lap in the living room, or in the corner of the ski lodge while waiting for my friends to come off the mountain. To paraphrase a hackneyed saying: “it’s the writing stupid.” Thank you for your insights.

By: Rebecca Holmes

Rebecca Holmes — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 13:54:46 +0000

So much of this rings true! I write best in a corner, on a ‘desk’ put up by my husband from the wooden headboard of our first bed! And social media can swallow so much time…
Thanks for mentioning the book by the brilliant Ann Patchett. I must order that.

By: Colleen Oakley

Colleen Oakley — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 12:57:22 +0000

In reply to Pat Harris. Thank you Pat! Glad that advice helped you as well. Good luck with your writing!

By: Pat Harris

Pat Harris — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 15:48:33 +0000

I was so glad to see your advice on social media. I struggle with my webpage (mostly the blog part), because although I reading blogs, I don’t particularly like writing them. Thanks!

By: Colleen Oakley

Colleen Oakley — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 16:42:19 +0000

In reply to Brenda. Brenda, hang in there! I know exactly what you're going through. And I always compared it to dating, too. Waiting by the phone, obsessively checking email hoping to hear something. The crushing blow when it's not good news. Sending lots of good luck thoughts your way. Remember, it only takes one yes!

By: Brenda

Brenda — Sun, 27 Apr 2014 16:16:18 +0000

I didn’t have Allison to ring up or write to this morning, but finding your post is serendipitous. It’s a timely reminder not to cave in. I am riding the query coaster now. It’s borderline heart wrenching opening my gmail and reading the words, Dear Author…. It’s subjective I tell myself. It’s a tough explaining this type of rejection to an outsider. It’s more than being discarded by a lover (which I cannot downplay as that is a whole level of devastating on its own) but when the writer in a person is rejected it’s like your bones melt and you feel yourself slip between the cracks beneath your feet. Wait.. maybe it’s the same thing.