Category Archives: writing

Can I Handle Being a Pest?

Posted on October 20, 2020 by Lida Bushloper

If I have to, yes. I used to spend hours agonizing about how to approach an editor, or the owner of a micro-press, with questions, requests for updates, clarification of certain points in the guidelines. I didn’t want to “bother” … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized, writing | Tagged advice, authors, editors, encouragement, networking, persistence, publishing, submissions, the writing life, writers, writing | 4 Comments

Do It Anyway

Posted on October 13, 2020 by Lida Bushloper

You may be familiar with the Kent Keith poem, popularized by Mother Teresa, that contains the line “Love them anyway.” It goes on to mention setbacks, disappointments and obstacles, to which the response is to continue to do the right … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized, writing | Tagged advice, authors, creativity, encouragement, persistence, the writing life, wisdom, writers, writing | 6 Comments

Money

Posted on October 5, 2020 by Lida Bushloper

I don’t make enough money from writing to deduct writing expenses. But I still have them, so I look forward to the day when I might, in fact, be able to balance them against what I’ve earned. My accountant was … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized, writing | Tagged advice, anthologies, authors, books, libraries, money, productivity, publishing, success, the writing life, writers, writers and money, writing, writing expenses | 2 Comments

Showing Some Spine

Posted on September 28, 2020 by Lida Bushloper

Between the global health crisis and the upcoming election, many of us have been more glued to our monitors than ever. So much of what we hear is repetitive or speculation, so I start noticing the backgrounds, rather than the … Continue reading →

Posted in publishing, writing | Tagged audio books, book sales, books, bookstores, ebooks, libraries, print books, readers, reading, statistics | Leave a comment

Less Than I Thought

Posted on September 21, 2020 by Lida Bushloper

What do you need to write? Ideas? A certain space? A block of time? Quiet? Solitude? Physical comfort? An Internet connection? A writing group? An MFA? What if you don’t have what you think is essential? Are you dead in … Continue reading →

Posted in publishing, writing | Tagged advice, authors, creativity, encouragement, getting started, ideas, performance, productivity, publishing, success, the writing life, writers, writing | Leave a comment

Oh, Really?

Posted on September 15, 2020 by Lida Bushloper

I can’t work at a messy desk. I need to relax with a few games of FreeCell before I get started. This email is way overdue. Just let me throw in a load of laundry. Need to make that dentist … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized, writing | Tagged advice, authors, creativity, distractions, encouragement, excuses, getting started, Greg Louganis, habits, Mark Twain, performance, productivity, quotes, the writing life, writers, writing | 2 Comments

The First Obstacle

Posted on September 7, 2020 by Lida Bushloper

My handwriting is terrible. Even when I try. Even when I slow down. Even on a good surface. It’s one of the reasons I did not want to write directly in the oral history book my niece sent me. Now … Continue reading →

Posted in publishing, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged authors, habits, handwriting, persistence, the writing life, word processing, writers, writing, writing problems | Leave a comment

Before You Know It

Posted on September 1, 2020 by Lida Bushloper

I’m not the only one. I’m not the only writer who is struggling to write during these unusual times. I see the posts on the various writer forums I belong to. Of course, some of those folks don’t have that … Continue reading →

Posted in publishing, writing | Tagged authors, creativity, encouragement, essays, getting started, personal history, productivity, the writing life, the writing process, writer's block, writers, writing | 6 Comments

Neighbor to Neighbor

Posted on May 29, 2020 by Lida Bushloper

I’ve written more than once about Little Free Libraries. My neighborhood is in a warm, dry climate, with an engaged community, so we have dozens of these free standing tiny display boxes with books and magazines to share and exchange. … Continue reading →

Posted in publishing, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged books, Chef Boyardee, Darth Vader, Little Free Library, magazines, reading, yarmulkes | 8 Comments

Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda

Posted on April 24, 2020 by Lida Bushloper

Sometimes I wish I were an accountant. I’m actually good with numbers. So, I could have been, back when I was supposedly “choosing” a career. But nooooo, I had to do something with more romance, more cachet. Like being a … Continue reading →