The Scribophile Writing Blog
-
Stoking the Scintillation of Inspiration
by Nina Munteanu • 10 comments
Stoking the creative artist inside you may be as simple as giving your mind the chance to wander—and taking the time to pay attention. Rhythm and regular, repetitive actions play a role in priming the artistic well.
“Many of us wish we were more creative,” Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way, shares. “Many of us sense we are more creative, but unable to effectively tap that creativity. Our dreams elude us....
-
My Writing is My Life
by Laura Preble • 10 comments
It's good to remember why writing matters, and why we do it.
My writing is the part of me that lives. Despite hardships, despite obstacles, despite cruel days and lonely nights, writing continues. I’ve done it since I was old enough to hold a pencil. I hav...
-
Reconciling Yesterday’s Future with Today’s Past
by Nina Munteanu • 5 comments
Our predictions and visions of the future are certainly predicated on our perceptions of the present and the past. So, what happens when yesterday’s “future” collides with today’s past?
Yesterday The Canada Writes Sci-Fi Twitter Challenge occurred. Writers had from 9 am to 9 pm ET to teleport themselves 100 years into the future and Tweet back the most profound, funny, prescient or d...
-
The Gritty Pearl and Financial Freedom
by Laura Preble • 10 comments
A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write.
The following is actually an essay I am writing as part of an application for something called The Gift of Freedom. It's a grant awarded to female writers annually to financially make it possible for...
-
Walking the Tightrope Between Innocent and Cynical
by Nina Munteanu • 8 comments
The writer’s journey from the passion and vulnerability of innocence to the wisdom of experience can be a dark and twisted road. In fact, if you are a writer of any merit, I guarantee you that yours will be too. Think Dante…
The writer’s journey from the passion and vulnerability of innocence to the wisdom of experience can be a dark and twisted road. In fact, if you are a writer of any merit, I guarantee you that yours w...
-
Detaching from the Outcome
by Laura Preble • 1 comment
Writing conferences are a lot like speed dating. If you expect to find Mr. Right Agent, you might be disappointed. Go with the flow.
The first time I attended a writing conference, I was nervous. Actually, I was scared. I truthfully got to the hotel and contemplated hiding in the bathroom. (Which isn’t a bad place to hide, really;...
-
What Did You Do Before You Were Famous…?
by Nina Munteanu • 10 comments
You have a following…Fans who “stalk” you at the writer conventions you participate in. Fans who want to co-write the sequel to your current bestseller with you, because they understand your universe—and your characters—so well. You discover that some fans have gone ahead and written fan-fic about your main character and universe on the Internet—a sign of adoration. Really.
So, you’re a famous author now… You’ve published several books and they sold more than a dozen copies each. In fact, a few have been translated and are in second printings. You’ve received some recog...
-
The Mind Palace
by Laura Preble • 5 comments
Our minds keep all of the information we ever heard, saw, or experienced. If you know how, you can access all that information and use it.
One of my latest obsessions is BBC’s Sherlock starring Benedict Cumberbatch. Okay, so I kind of cyber stalk him. It’s harmless. One of the reasons I love the show (other than my Benaddiction) is th...
-
Writing About Truth…and Other Lies
by Nina Munteanu • 16 comments
Whenever an issue of importance arises, the truth reveals itself. And sometimes in the oddest way. It often slides in through a back door in nuance, motion, color.
Some of you may be aware of the still running commentary on my previous article here entitled “Angels, Aliens, Atwood and other Archetypes”. The topic of ‘what science fiction does best as literature’...
-
A Piece of my Heart
by Laura Preble • 11 comments
Newspapers have been our country's thread through history. The thread is breaking.
Allow me to grieve for a moment or two. I just canceled the subscription to my local newspaper. This may seem like a fairly trivial thing, but to me, it marks the end of an era in my life. I gre...
Our writing group
Scribophile is an online writing group for serious writers.
We’re one of the largest and most active writing groups online. If you’re serious about your writing, why not join us?