A.Word.A.Day with Anu Garg onomatomania PRONUNCIATION: (on-uh-mat-uh-MAY-nee-uh) MEANING: noun: An obsession with particular words or names and desire to recall or repeat them. ETYMOLOGY: Via Latin, from Greek onoma (name) + -mania (excessive enthusiasm or craze). USAGE: “Every time Ammon Shea came across an interesting word, he jotted it down, desperate to avoid onomatomania.” Nicole […]

Welcome to winter, that season of darkness, cold, and depression. Last year, I didn’t have any problems – it was so warm and sunny all winter, I barely noticed it.  This year has been darker and colder, and the inability to reach beyond the present moment already hit me with the lack of sunshine. This

@ianthealy Of course it's a brilliant idea. in reply to ianthealy # Rejected 4/6 on the novel, Alien Blue. # Ding ding ding! Grats! RT@ChuckWendig Hey! Holy crap, press release. (Big Awesome News over at #terribleminds!) http://tinyurl.com/y8fkxkz # I'm learning to love my writer's block: http://blog.deannaknippling.com/?p=1941 # My condolences. RT@elizawhat I just realized […] that

I am a Super Guest Star over at Ian’s blog, talking about learning to love revision.

Chuck over at Terrible Minds was writing about mood the other day, and it made something click.  Mood is how the narrator feels about the story. Not the author (although that’s often the case; see the ouvre of Robert Heinlein). The idea really only makes sense to me now that I’ve beaten myself up over

Writer’s block. Hm…yeah. I am currently experiencing a bad case of writer’s block over The Chocolate Story (working title), which I am writing to give as a Christmas present.  So no time crunch there or anything. I had a plan.  I followed the plan for two perfect sections…and then, Part 3. Part 3 did not

@Three_Star_Dave Ahhh! Yikes. How is Margie doing? Any news yet? in reply to Three_Star_Dave # @ianthealy Grats on your #storywin! in reply to ianthealy # "A chai tea latte that features both espresso and spiced tea is sometimes known as a dirty chai." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masala_chai # Mandocello: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0H457x9Qu0&feature=PlayList&p=E8926E3E68FF9FE3&index=6&playnext=7&playnext_from=PL # Chocolate Story Planets: Tullynally, Knockdrin, Killua, Tyrrellspass,

I started drafting a new project today, a novellette in eight parts that I’m calling “The Chocolate Story” as a working title. I’m making it so each part can be folded around a chocolate bar and wrapped, and I’m going to send them out for Christmas presents. The chocolate is from Dagoba Chocolate,who make some

@elizawhat Google wave begging begins: pick me! in reply to elizawhat # @ianthealy Grats on the story! in reply to ianthealy # I sent out the book! Five agents today. # Speak for yourself. @doycet @Three_Star_Dave And no one wants to see mostly-naked bowlers. # @ianthealy I love your S-Team this morning. # Oh noes!

Ray and I had a day of adventures with Ann, Larry, Robin, and Robin’s daughter Ridley, who is (I think) five. Started out with a production of The Hobbit by the Academy of Children’s Theater. The acting was pretty good (in the case of the actress who played the Golem, pure delight), the sets were