by D.B. Smyth | @DB_Smyth | Oct 16, 2015 | On Craft
5 1/2 years. That’s roughly how long I’ve been working on this novel. 6 years. That’s how long I’ve been trying to figure out writing and me and life. 2,138 days of recovering from PTSD, spilling my heart onto the paper, growing as a writer, editor and person, and...
by D.B. Smyth | @DB_Smyth | Oct 2, 2015 | Writing Tools
I don’t know who gave it to us. Other writers, maybe? Unknowingly passing this virtual virus via tweets, blog posts and even books. Or maybe it’s the writing gremlins–the little monsters that like to crawl around inside your head and whisper that...
by D.B. Smyth | @DB_Smyth | May 24, 2013 | The Writing Life, Writing Tools
I. Love. Mind mapping! I probably learned this skill way back in elementary school–or maybe it was Jr. High?–for brainstorming. You know. Write your main idea in the center and circle it, add tangent lines for all the pieces connected to said idea, group...
by D.B. Smyth | @DB_Smyth | May 17, 2012 | The Writing Life
With the DFW Writers’ Conference right around the corner many of us have tummies all twisted in knots with excitement! WAHOOOO!!!! It feels like I’m standing in line waiting for my turn on the roller coaster. I want to scream and dance and puke and then scream some...
by D.B. Smyth | @DB_Smyth | May 10, 2012 | On Craft, The Writing Life
This structure thing is kicking my trash! I’ve read several books and articles on the subject, but Save the Cat! came the closest to helping me wrap my head around it. Well, I should say Save the Cat! in conjunction with several blog posts from Lydia Sharp (who...
by D.B. Smyth | @DB_Smyth | Mar 19, 2012 | The Writing Life
His fingers curled into air quotes as he said the word “writer.” “That’s your job?” he asked. “Yep,” I replied. “So you get paid.” “No. It’s more like an investment.” “So you don’t work.”...
