What inspires you to write?

A certain feeling, or idea? A shade, or color? A memory, or a dream? Grab every little thing that sparks your imagination, and use it. The bobbing head of a black bird, the way a leaf twists in the chill wind, the boiling shape of a cloud. The twirl of your gut while falling from …

Word Peevs: we all have them!

Often times:   Why don't you just say 'often'? Begs the question: 95% of the time you mean 'raises the question.' Familiar pronounced as Fur-miliar: Unless you are talking about your cat... The problem is, is...: The thing is, is this is really annoying for me. The question is, is this annoying to anyone else? Don't get …

Several short sentences about writing, by Verlyn Klinkenborg

I got this as a gift last year, and am finally finishing it now after a long hiatus of distraction. This is unequivocally the best book on writing I've ever read. Each page--each sentence--is a useful insight that most 'how to write' books would stretch out into an entire chapter. It is a joy to …