Weekly Reader folds into history

“Curiouser and curiouser.”

All posts tagged freelance

Posted:
July 23, 2012
Tags:
Comments:
0

Weekly Reader folds into history

The Daily News reported today that Weekly Reader was sold to Scholastic last February. It was cited that Scholastic was “axing all but five of Weekly Reader’s 60 employees in White Plains, NY.” I suppose that is an accurate (albeit broad-stroked) account. Those of us who have not been picked up have, for the most part, moved on. Though it’s probably safe to say that none of us will ever forget the work we did or the extraordinary people we collaborated with at our beloved company.

From my own perspective, working for such an inspiring piece of Americana was always a delight. Whenever I told someone what I did for a living, regardless of their age, they would more often than not respond: “Ohh, Weekly Reader! I used to love getting those in school! You guys are still around?” Heh. Well…

Despite the many challenges we faced in our final years, the incredibly talented team of dedicated people that put those educational periodicals (both elementary and secondary) together always gave it their all. ”Like all papers,” the Daily News reported, “Weekly Reader was struggling with changes roiling the print world and was under pressure to develop digital editions.” True, we struggled inasmuch as any other publishing company does in today’s world. But rather than shy from new technologies, we embraced them. We created digital editions of all our magazines, launched “e-issues” (educational, interactive, themed web sites), wrote blogs, and kept the lines of communication open with teachers and educators as we attempted to stay one step ahead of the ever-evolving classroom environment. In the end, I suppose Weekly Reader became a casualty of the times. It’s sad that we no longer get to work together in White Plains, doing what we love to do. But what’s more depressing is that this time-honored brand that so many of us grew up with, loved, trusted, and learned from is now but a memory.

I do look forward to seeing what Scholastic does in the future and I am confident that, though WR is no more, what it stood for will live on.

And to exit on a promising note: if anyone out there should ever require a talented, dedicated, creative editor, art director, photo editor, copy editor, production designer, or web designer for an educational or otherwise, print or digital publishing task, gig, job, or consult… I know sixty extraordinary candidates.

 

Posted:
July 16, 2012
Tags:
Comments:
1

Be Yourself… sorta

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? “Stay in school” may ring a bell whereas “keep your chin up” could have you blinded by the sun. I have no idea what “don’t squeeze the Charmin” is supposed to mean. Advertising fail! Maybe it’s good advice, who knows? Regardless, none of these words of wisdom can compare to the ever popular, time-honored classic: “Be yourself.”

Just be yourself. Period. No explanation necessary. You get it. Immediately. Whether or not you have come to terms with just who that person is yet is irrelevant because those two words allow you to go exploring within your own character. But let’s pretend, for argument’s sake, that you know who you are and you’re exquisitely comfortable with <ahem> being yourself. Great!

But are you sure?

I’d venture to guess that there are about fifty shades of you, sexy pants! There’s the You you are with your friends who is probably someone different than the You you are with your family who is most definitely not the same as the You you are with your pets, or whoever you are during dreaming, fantasies, social interactions with strangers, bankers, cops, the guy who sells you milk, and most importantly there is the You who has the quiet nook carved out in your head and sits there peacefully in those most private of moments—no one can get anywhere near him (or her). I guess the question we should be asking ourselves then is not Who Are You? but rather Who Aren’t You? Which skin will you be wearing out in public today? You’ve got so many!

If you want to be in business for yourself as a freelancer, you’re going to have to get a grip on your most rational and clear-thinking self. That’s the You you want steering the boat. There is no room for self-doubt or wishy-washiness here. You see, contrary to popular belief, freelancing is not all about the writing. If it were, your multi-shaded personality might be just fine masked behind those carefully crafted, written words of yours. Unfortunately, the writing is only half of it. And in order to get to that half (the fun half), you must first make your connections, be pleasant, charming, sell yourself! Ahh, there You are again. Is your smile polished? Are you confident? Stutter-free? Ready and rarin’ to go? The client will smell self-doubt a mile away. Kick that Unsure You to the curb! Bring your A+ Game! If you misstep, so what? Brush it off and get back in there. Whichever You you’ve chosen, make it the best. Put your worries away for another day. In fact, stash them so far up in your brain’s attic that you can’t hardly even remember what they are! The point is that maybe “be yourself” isn’t the best advice you can implement when navigating the choppy waters of Freelancia. Perhaps a better way to approach things is to “be the best yourself there is.” In fact, that’s pretty good advice for all your life’s myriad adventures. Good luck, You!

Posted:
July 11, 2012
Tags:
Comments:
0

Stop Thinking Full Time

One challenge I find myself trying to overcome in this freelancer’s life is constantly avoiding the urge to apply to full-time positions listed on mediabistro, craigslist, etc. Why, just today I considered two very intriguing editorial positions and I had to physically restrain myself from sending the ol’ resume. Would it hurt anything to do so? Of course not. But it would probably be a waste of good people’s time in that I have little to no desire to jump right back into the corporate world so soon—especially when I have my hands pretty full with writing gigs, projects, budding hopes, etc. On the other hand, if some position did scream out to me and seem like it could be something that could hold a candle to my last job in terms of having the perfect blend of self-fulfillment, purpose, location, and salary, well then that kind of position would be too good to pass up, would it not? Hard to say, really. I am enjoying my independence. But…

There’s always a “but,” isn’t there?

I read this pretty dated web article by a passionate lunatic a few weeks back. I’m not going to dig it out because it was repetitive bad writing that was repetitive and all other kinds of ridiculousness; in fact, it may even have been spam. With that caveat in place, I will say that the themes and thoughts within the piece were akin to: You Are Insane If You Think You Need To Work A 40+ Hour A Week Salaried Job. The amaetuer author (or super-skilled spambot) made a few amusing points about how, in an office position, you can often find yourself wasting your time and not getting the job done. The “water cooler mentality” can take over the day and before you know it, you have tailored your position to be mediocre, just as everyone else around you has done. Now of course, I’m not saying that this sluggish extreme ever penetrated my work ethic, but I can see how, in a milder sense, it could become apparent. When you are hired at a company to do a job, over time, you can unconsciously discover ways in which to do the bare minimum your job requires of you and still receive high accolades. It’s a bizarre truth in corporate America and one that should be stamped out. But who will do the stamping? It’s just business as usual and if business is good, let’s not rock the boat.

Freelancers have no room for merely rolling with the punches because if we let the “do nothings” get us down, we’ll be knocked out for the count. This is why I believe it is the freelancers who truly work the hardest for their bacon. When you don’t know where your next paycheck is going to come from, you are going to strive to excel at whatever current job you’re working on to the best of your ability. If you slack a bit at your office job, chances are probably decent that no one is going to notice. If you slack off in a freelance gig, you may not see another one. Reputation spreads wide.

But this isn’t to be a scary ordeal. It should be exciting, joyous! In the day to day cubicle malaise, you pretty much know what to expect next week, next month, or hell, maybe even next year. In the world of freelance, who’s to say where you’ll be this time next whenever. Perhaps you’ll write the first culinary review of a lunar restaurant! By the way, how was the cheese flambé? I hear it is the chef’s speciality up there on that rock.

Take this all with a grain of salt. Of course you can have a very pleasant and satisfying professional career in the corporate realm. I did it for a long time and I am never 100% sold on the fact that I’ll never do it again. I just think that, for now, I should probably focus on being this and not that. After all, I have only just begun.

Get Smarter.

Posted:
June 30, 2012
Tags:
Comments:
0

Pay it Forward, Bring it Back – A Freelancer’s First Month

Of all the careers, in all the towns, in all the world… …you had to be mine.

Since the sad, sorry closing of my old company and the beginning of my new career as a freelance writer/editor, I’ve been pretty lucky. I sort of fell right into my first contract job by paying it forward. By that I mean that while I was scouring the web for freelance gigs for myself, I was also looking out for others. If I saw a job that wasn’t necessarily right for me but might be right for a colleague, of course I would forward that information on. As it turned out, one of these did actually result in a good friend of mine snagging a pretty impressive project. That, in and of itself, made me happy! Then, come to find out, the contract she received was such a large undertaking that she was alloted a small staff! So she came back to me and asked if I’d like to join the team. Heck yes, I would!

Without saying too much about the project, I believe it would be all right for me to say that it involves working on a career-focused educational game for students. In doing much research of hundreds of different professions over the past three weeks, I have come to really appreciate where I am in life right now as well as becoming more aware of  how many other opportunities there are out there. I don’t presume to understand how one child grows up to be a neurosurgeon while another becomes an editor while another becomes a game show host while another becomes an electrical engineer while another becomes a candlestick maker. The paths we choose are based on an incomprehensible amount of conscious and unconscious decisions, traits, skills, etc. as we go. All I know is, out of the countless professions that could have chosen me, I am very content with this one so far. Of course, I am still a newbie as a freelancer and I don’t pretend to think it’s all wine and roses just because I landed this first gig pretty pronto. I am sure there will be days in the future where I will be at my wit’s end trying to find work. I hope those days will be few and far between. But in the meantime, it’s pretty groovy to make your own hours, choose your own projects, write-off office supplies, meet interesting people, learn new things, and do it all in footy pajamas! Just kidding, those only come out in the winter.

The only two big cons I have seen so far are: having to buy my own insurance and the occassional loneliness. The former is just a necessary evil of the business. Suck it up and deal. Pretty soon everyone is going to have to be insured whether they have a company to pay for it or not so I guess I’m ahead of the curve there. As far as the loneliness goes, it’s not terrible. I still keep in touch with the old crew and I do live with my girlfriend and four cats so they all keep me on my toes, no doubt. And the newly installed birdhouse out back makes for interesting company every day. I do enjoy raising and shaking my fist at those damn squirrels while secretly marveling at their acrobatics. But sometimes I do miss the long commute into work, the company camaraderie, the excitement of a magazine well-done, and even (or especially) the moaning that inevitably comes in any shared office from the “same boat mentality.” I’m a one-man show now. It is at times very exhilarating and at others, kinda dull. But at least it’s where I want to be and when someone asks me what I do, I can say with pride, “I am a freelancer,” and smile.

-LW

Posted:
May 31, 2012
Tags:
Comments:
0

Last Dance

Here it comes. No, it’s not my 19th nervous breakdown. That came years ago. Rather, today is the last day at a job that has defined 72% of me for over 8 years. It’s taking every bit of strength just to get dressed and go in. It’s going to be terribly sad. One positive is that we have had over three months to acclimate to this. But it is still gonna sting.

Ah but life goes on, does she not? I have a number of freelance projects bubbling and that is exciting! I can’t wait to see which one I can dig my teeth into first! But alas, I must first say goodbye to dear friends and co-workers. And to top it all off, I have to give up my beauty of a computer. Tears! Dear People at Apple. Please release the new Macbook Pros ASAP. I’m going to be going through withdrawal very very soon.

OK well I should really get moving. More on this subject later perhaps when I am not feeling so melodramatic. For now, I have my last long morning commute to tackle. My last day in the office. Last last last. Why can’t everything just last?

Posted:
May 2, 2012
Tags:
Comments:
0

How to know when a freelance writing project is complete

Short answer:

When your editor tells you, “Excellent job! Thank you so much for the brilliant work you have done for us! Feel free to send us an invoice, you super duper freelance trooper!”

Long answer:

Know what you are getting into from the start. Obviously, it depends on what you’ve signed up for. If you are writing an article that requires heavy research and thoughtful analysis, the project could go on for much longer than you anticipated. This is a likely case if you are just starting out with a client you have never worked with before. Any number of bumps could be in your future. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to tell what they may be when you are just starting out. But just knowing that they will come and accepting that is a good way to approach any project. You aren’t Shakespeare. Sorry.

A first draft is never a final draft. This is common knowledge. Even if you think you’ve written the world’s most glorious piece on how to whittle small woodland creatures out of imported balsa wood, think again. There are bound to be areas of improvement and your editor is going to show you where.

Don’t be put off by editorial notes. Editors are wicked smart and they know how to guide you when you have steered off course. When they tell you, “I love what you are doing in this section but here’s a way you can do it better…” don’t glare at the screen thinking “You just don’t understand my genius, mannnnn!” Because that would be detrimental to the project, your relationship with the client, your writing, your willingness to improve, and let’s face it, the entire writing community at large. Don’t give writers a bad name! Even if you do feel like you’ve been shot through the heart. It’s not that bad, dude. Suck it up and accept the fact that editor knows best. In the end, it’s you working for them, not vice-versa.

Don’t be afraid to challenge a few editorial notes. If your editor gives you a note that you strongly disagree with for reasons that are valid to the project, you do have every right, as the primary writer, to challenge a note or three. But do it with the style and grace that becomes you as a professional. Don’t say, “I strongly disagree with you here because I’m right and you’re wrong and nanny nanny poo poo.” Not that you would say that. That’s not going to win you any future projects and it makes you look like a tool. Do say, “About your note: I see the direction in which you’d like me to go and I understand your point of view, but wouldn’t it be even better if we did X, Y, Z?” Examine your zipper? Nah. It doesn’t much matter if your fly is down when you are a freelance writer because you are working from the comfort of your home and no one can see you from the other side of their computer! (But seriously dude, X, Y, Z. Ha! Did you check?) … Don’t force your opinions on your editor. Rather, politely offer him/her a creative alternative to the editorial note in question and see if it sticks. Who knows? You may change their mind! Especially if you feel strongly about something and can communicate your idea clearly. And let’s be honest, if you can’t communicate your ideas clearly then you’re probably in the wrong business. Editors are people too and they are (for the most part) very respectful of the writers who work for them. Remember that, above all. You may not be in charge, but you ARE a respected writer. How do you think you got the job in the first place??

Revise with the perfect mix of patience and gusto. Second and third and <gulp> subsequent drafts are where the magic happens. Approach your revisions as if you are polishing a silver statue with a gold-painted rag. It’s not always easy. Gold paint on an old flannel tends to stick to the shirt and only a few flecks may transfer to the work at first. But after awhile, you get better and better at it and you realize… what the hell am I using a rag for? Nurse, hand me my golden paintbrush! And after you’ve cleared away all the mixed metaphors, you start to see perfection shining through. Granted, it takes work. That’s why it’s called work and not lolly gagging. Why, if I didn’t have my own project to get back to revising, I’d probably re-paint this entire bullet point. Thankfully, blogs are an exception. If no one is paying you to write them, that is.

Give your project a final final final read. When the gold paint has dried on your final draft, let it sleep for one night (assuming you aren’t past deadline). When you wake in the morning, go back and give everything you’ve written a final final final read. It’s perfect, isn’t it? You’ve done everything your editor has asked of you and you couldn’t be more pleased with yourself. Oh… there’s one dumb typo and another misplaced comma. Nice, catch! Anything else? You sure? You’ve read it through and come to know that this is the best the project can be? Well all right. Own it. And congratulations! Send that puppy to your editor and watch the accolades (and cash) roll in.

Unless your editor asks you to tweak one last thing. If this happens, you have my permission to throw a hissy fit, drink til you are rotten, sober up, and get back on the horse. Tweak that shit. Work it. That’s how it’s done.

Ahh. Now go find your next project.

 

Posted:
April 19, 2012
Tags:
Comments:
0

The Future of Publishing – A Tidbit

I wrote the following honest tidbit a couple weeks back as part of a cover letter for some online freelance gig that pays an insulting amount for robotic albeit time-consuming work. Are you familiar with these sites? I’m not even sure if they are legit. Which is why, in the end, I never clicked the “submit resume” button. Instead, I just copied my thoughts for future use somewhere. As it turns out, somewhere is here. And sometime is now. I’d love to hear what you think.

—————–

The future of publishing is anyone’s guess but recent trends show that we are headed toward  (if not already ensconced in) a literary digital age. With the recent closing of so-called “brick and mortar” bookstores—most notably Borders—and the advent of e-readers and tablets, today’s common consumer is becoming more comfortable with digital books every day.

However, text will always be text. Putting aside digital books and educational games that are created for early elementary students, I don’t believe that there is much of a place for distracting bells and whistles in a novel or nonfiction article that is designed for the average adult reader. When speaking strictly of the words that fall on the page, no amount of interactivity can ever replace the inherent sensory imagery that occurs in one’s brain through the simple act of reading. Whether digital publishing continues to thrive or print makes a startling comeback in years to come, words, stories, and well-written ideas will always reign.

—————–

And then I slammed the mic down and kicked over my pedestal. Boom.

Posted:
April 3, 2012
Tags:
Comments:
0

Writing is Personal? Since when? (Writing Tip No. 7)

The Writing Part

Any writer throughout history will tell you this (yes, I’ve met and asked them all): writing is you and your soul on paper. Once you release your words, they are for public fare. Can you live with what you’ve written with no “take backsies” or rewrites? If you answered yes, then maybe your manuscript is ready to get out there. Maybe that is the key to knowing when you are finished with anything. When you can see your words there, as they stand; they represent you in many meaningful ways. No matter if you’re writing an autobiography or a brilliant fantasy of a world where ordinary people never have to choose between being Team Edward or Team Jacob—if you are writing that book, please let me be your story’s first eyes!—the quest is always the same. Love your words and your words will love you back. It’s a symbiotic relationship we often take for granted. But then again… they are only words.

But you own them! Make them go! Get your crazy eyes on and write how you feel and how it matters. Then throw out that scorned teen’s diary nonsense and start over. Extreme? I’m just guessing. Cuz that’s where I go at some beginnings. But your own bad or cliche* writing can give you perspective and help you move forward with your craft. Take a step back and ask, “What’s wrong with this picture?” Overall and in pieces. If it’s yours and perfect and you approve, set it free.

Or just keep a stack of thought and story-filled notebooks under your mattress and enjoy them all for you only. May whatever goal you seek for your work come true. And while we’re askin’ for stuff… may God bless ponies and bunny rabbits.

The Reading Part

I am reading Watership Down as an audible.com book. And please don’t tell me that listening to a book can not be claimed as reading a book. I won’t have that argument because it is silly. I’m still getting the story. At any rate, please, no spoilers either. I have never read it and so far as I can see early on, it is quite magnificent. If you are familiar, I am so rooting for Fiver. I mean, why wouldn’t you be? Wait, don’t answer that. We’ll talk again in a few weeks. But the main plot of the story is that a group of bunnies leave the comfort of their home in the meadow because of an unfounded prediction that the entire herd <?what’s a giant group of bunnies that live together called? a common probably.> common would perish. That’s abouts alls I knows and I don’ts know no mores. I said there’d be unecessary plurals at some point earlier today.

But I do need to pick up my kindle again. I tried a few books recently but they all sort of petered my interest quickly out. In fact, the last good novel I read was (semi-ironically) The Reader. It’s a brutally honest look into the heart and mind of a former female Nazi guard and her torrent love affair with a 15 year old. Unbelievable that I had never heard of this book before but it was an excellent read to say least and it would be a wonder if it is not banned. Though I do believe there is a large gap between banning a book and quietly accepting one. I have a feeling that the educational community does the latter and doesn’t really draw attention to the book by teaching it. Though if a student found it on his own, he’d probably be encouraged by the school system. I would hope, anyway. Clearly these are only speculations on a much broader subject. It’s also one I didn’t mean to stumble into. So, with that…

The Part That Talks More About The Picture

Very cool, right? Check more testimonials at “Why I Write.”

The Part Where It Ends For Now

Today, a friend of mine sent me a literary quote and it speaks for itself:

In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life. It goes on. — Robert Frost

Posted:
March 5, 2012
Tags:
Comments:
0

Setting up an LLC: Fun for you and fun for me!

The first L stands for Literary.

The second L stands for Love.

The C stands for Congratulate me! I’m an LLC! Congrats, says you, so what exactly does that mean? Well, in a nutshell it means that “Literary Wonderland” is now a legally recognized company in the state of <fill in where I am located here>. Literary Wonderland specializes in freelance writing and editorial services. The state recognizes this and any future company that tries to take the name “Literary Wonderland” for similar services is SOL. Sorry Charlie, you snooze you lose. But don’t give up just because I have the ultimate company name. Here are some FAQ’s for going forward with your own righteous entity!

WHY DO I NEED AN LLC?
Good question. If you are planning on branching out on your own and doing a lot of freelancing now or in the future, and if you want to register an original company name with the powers that be, AND if you want to be write off certain purchases that are necessities in your trade, an LLC is the way to go. Sure you can freelance on your own without the added worry of a fancy shmancy company name, but if you want to go the extra mile and make yourself more than just the average Joe looking for work, a company name, web presence, and LLC says to the world: Look at me! I’m serious and I’ve got skills! Holla! And then hire!

HOW DO I GET AN LLC?
It is actually very simple to set up an LLC online. In fact, all I did was to google “setting up an LLC” and a plethora of articles pop up. Duh. Anyone can figure that part out. Then, after you’ve read up on different avenues you can take—you can hire an attorney to set one up for you but why throw your money away?—you can easily find your Secretary of State’s Office website and follow some relatively moron-proof step-by-step instructions to form your limited liability corporation.

DOES IT COST AN ARM AND A LEG TO GET AN LLC?
Easy answer: no.
More detailed answer: Registering your company with the state is not going to bankrupt you by any means. However, if you are currently in a tough situation, it may mean cutting back on something else this month. Do you really need those $6 Starbuck coffees every morning?
My answer: In my situation, it cost $125 to register “Literary Wonderland” as an LLC. I thought that was fair. Then, I tacked on another $50 to get an official sealed certificate so I can frame it and smile at it when I’m feeling low. But you certainly don’t need to do that if you’d rather not. Once you pay the initial fee (which varies from state to state, but not by much), you receive PDFs that include your official company identification number for tax purposes.

IS THAT ALL?
Yup. On the state level, that’ll do ya. Keep in mind though that after you register your LLC with the state, you will then have to also register on the federal level. This is also extraordinarily easy to do and it is FREE. Praise the Lord!

DO I ABSOLUTELY NEED TO REGISTER WITH THE FEDS?
Yes. Like I said though, it’s easy and free. What’s your damage? Are you living off the grid somewhere, holed up in a bomb shelter with a cult and an arsenal just waiting for doomsday? Well if that’s the case brother, you’re biggest concern probably isn’t going to be starting your own freelance writing company. Please, rethink your life. Let the women and children go.

YOU’RE RIGHT, I DON’T KNOW WHAT I WAS THINKING! THANK YOU, LITERARY WONDERLAND! I’M GOING TO START MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE!
Well now that’s just super. Glad to hear it. But don’t thank me. Thank the LLC.

-LW

Posted:
February 23, 2012
Tags:
Comments:
0

Great books come from okay first drafts (Writing Tip No. 4)

I haven’t read a good book in awhile. I’m listening to Stephen King’s latest “11/22/63″ on my long commute to work every day. Does that count? I’ve just been so busy setting up my web site for my freelance writing/editorial business that may or may not be taking off soon. I’m also running like a madman (I’m training for a marathon), and most importantly, I’m writing my YA book. I gave myself a deadline to have the rough draft finished by March 10 in order to apply for a Work-In-Progress Grant from the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI) before the deadline. My current writing goal for this is to put down 2,000 words a day. I’m about 8,000 words behind since I set my goal a couple weeks ago. The words keep piling up day after day! It’s an insane amount of work to slam out in a very short amount of time that rivals the 1,666 words a day challenge of NaNoWriMo each November. I tried NaNoWriMo twice before. I got close both times. About halfway. That’s close, right?

I’m not too worried about the daily writing goal. I wish that my only job was writing. I’ll bet Stephen King laughs in the face of 2,000 words/day. Have you seen the hardcover version of “11/22/63″? You could kill a brontosaurus with it! That is, if you found some kind of rabbit hole in the back of a small town diner, stepped into it, went back in time carrying King’s latest novel, blew past the assassination of JFK all the way to the mesozoic, met a brontosaurs, raised the book and… oh my God, how could you do that? They’re so cute! What’s wrong with you? Gosh.

You may be wondering: how much of my new YA novel is actually good? Well… I’d say about half of it. That’s pretty good! When you’re writing a rough draft, I don’t think you should necessarily put too much emphasis on quality. Did he really just say that? Listen, if your first draft makes you want to puke and die, you might want to reconsider a few plot points. I’m not saying you should strive toward mediocrity (although look at how successful Stephenie Meyer is – oh snap!), but don’t dwell on making it perfect the first time out of the gates either. For me, a first draft is just about getting it down, pouring it out, and moving through the story. Occasionally, I do find myself editing a certain paragraph over and over again. When that happens I try my best to pull away from it, maybe highlight it first, save some notes on it for later. But move along, son. Nothing to see here.

It’s a good philosophy. Works for me, anyway. I once read an interview Tom Robbins (one of my favorite writers, but he hasn’t written anything in awhile has he? What’s up with that?). In the interview, Robbins said that when he writes, he has a general idea of where his story is going to go but he perfects every single sentence in the novel one by one. He writes the opening line, stares at it, re-writes it, re-writes-it, tweaks it, re-writes it again, makes it amazing, then moves on to his second sentence. He works this way through his entire book! I could never do that. I gotta just write, man. Robbins’ way seems like it would give me an ulcer by Chapter Two. But then again, read his opening line to Another Roadside Attraction: The magician’s underwear has just been found in a cardboard suitcase floating in a stagnant pond on the outskirts of Miami.

The man may be on to something.

← Older Entries