On Writing

The New Republic
The Afterlives of E.M. Forster~16 min read · Sep 21st · For decades, Forster could not publish his novel of gay love, “Maurice.” Its importance in his work and to the writers he nurtured is only just becoming clear.
Guardian Books
Top 10 gripes in literature5 min read · Aug 25th · Some distrust kvetching in print, but writers from Shakespeare to Valerie Solanas show there’s nothing wrong with constructive – and even destructive – criticism
writing
Brain Pickings
Chekhov on the Ultimate Task of Art and How (Not) to Be a Writer2 min read · Sep 2nd · On solving problems vs. posing questions.
writing
productivity
art
Most highlighted
“Anyone who says that the artist’s sphere leaves no room for questions, but deals exclusively with answers, has never done any writing or done anything with imagery.”
art is tasked not with solving the puzzles of being but with dissolving the false certainties of our near-life experience.
It is the duty of the law courts to correctly formulate problems, but it is up to the members of the jury to solve them, each to his own taste.
Every
Chaotic Good~15 min read · Jul 20th · Or, how to stop hating yourself and start writing.
writing
writing tips
Most highlighted
The impulse to “self-edit” your own thoughts even as they’re tumbling out of your head is so strong among writers at all levels and stages of their careers, it’s practically universal. That judgment that our “first thoughts” are stupid and dumb can be completely paralyzing
“We take  unholy risks to prove  we are what we cannot be. For instance,   I am not even crazy.”  Amiri Baraka, Snake Eyes, 1963 
The best way to do that is to embrace the chaos within! I swear to you, if you want to get better at self-editing, you need to get better at the chaos part first. 
Open Culture
Umberto Eco’s 36 Rules for Writing Well (in English or Italian)3 min read · Jun 18th · Creative Commons image by Rob Bogaerts, via the National Archives in Holland Umberto Eco knew a great many things. Indeed too many things, at least according to his critics:
writing
english
Most highlighted
Umberto Eco knew a great many things. Indeed too many things, at least according to his critics: “Eco knows everything there is to know and spews it in your face in the most blasé manner,” declared Pier Paolo Pasolini, “as if you were listening to a robot.”
Hold those quotes. Emerson aptly said, “I hate quotes. Tell me only what you know.”
Adam Thomas
Quarterly Reviewwriting
personal growth
personal development
Summary, by the author
Begin writing with something you believe in, a truth that will surprise others.
Write about something you are nervous to tell other people. Make yourself vulnerable.
Place people at the heart of your writing, even if you are working on non-fiction.
Don't worry about misquoting, or using a little poetic license.
The more structured your writing, the more risks you can take with the expansiveness of your language.
Good structure starts with a throughline.
Spend more time planning than you want to. Spend at least 50% of your time noting and outlining.
Listen to your readers. Make yourself approachable.
Read the full article  (4 min read)
Every
How to find your writing “voice.”writing
writing tips
Summary, by the author
Your nonfiction writing "voice" is your point of view and is completely unique to you.
Specific exercises can help reveal your voice to you, like high-stakes prompts, collecting inspirations, maximalist writing, and self-editing practices. 
Learning how to use tools like style, tone, and diction can help you better express your innate voice. 
When you're starting out, don't adopt a character in public writing or you'll risk getting lost in it. Let yourself be recognizable.
Practice non-doing; voice happens when you're busy writing about something more important.
Read the full article  (~12 min read)
nature
Sell yourself and your science in a compelling personal statement6 min read · Apr 24th · Don’t get bogged down in technical details, and balance the professional and the personal.
POLITICO
Opinion | How Substack Revealed the Real Value of Writers’ Unfiltered Thoughts8 min read · Apr 17th · Turns out gatekeepers aren’t so helpful if you want to make a ton of money as a journalist.
writing
Fast Company
The psychological benefits of writing by hand4 min read · 2020-11-23 · For those of us who spend most days in front of a computer, writing by hand can have refreshing benefits.
writing
sydneyreviewofbooks.com
Tell-all | Eda Gunaydin on confession~19 min read · 2020-10-29 · The problem is I can’t make up my mind about confession.
SearchEngineJournal®
15 Tips That Will Improve Your Writing Today~12 min read · 2020-09-27 · Learning how to write well is a process that can always be improved. Apply these 15 tactics to elevate your writing to the next level.
writing
Literary Hub
How to Write an Email Well Enough to Land a Book Deal~11 min read · 2020-07-28 · Deduced from my somewhat limited study of people I’ve met in airports and at Belt events, about 82 percent of Americans think they have a good idea for a book. Now, it’s definitely a very feel-good…
writing
Brain Pickings
Hemingway’s Advice on Writing, Ambition, the Art of Revision, and His Reading List of Essential Books for Aspiring Writers7 min read · From 2016 · “In any art you’re allowed to steal anything if you can make it better.”
writing
inspiration
The Nation
Jack Whitten’s Journals Are a Future Classic of Art Writing~11 min read · 2020-08-01 · Notes From the Woodshed, a recent collection of Jack Whitten’s journal entries and writings, give an invaluable peek into the artistic process.
The Cut
So You Want to Write?8 min read · 2020-07-21 · Nine professional writers offer advice.
books
writing
On Writing

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