Category Archives: writing

Harper Lee Has a Backlist of One

Posted on June 11, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Whenever I begin to worry too much about goals, and success, and output, and all that, I remind myself: Harper Lee. Harper Lee wrote a novel. It was her first novel. She was past thirty years old when To Kill … Continue reading →

Posted in business of writing, writing | 3 Comments

Reading and Writing Erotica as a Feminist Act

Posted on June 10, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Recently, I followed a link to a fascinating-sounding blog post on erotica only to find that I had already read the post almost a year ago, and had in fact commented on it. I still stand by my comment, and … Continue reading →

Posted in erotica, reading, romance novels, writing | 4 Comments

The Desire to Publish

Posted on June 9, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

What makes people want to have their fiction published? I’ve thought about this often: how some people burn for publication and others don’t; how for some, feedback from readers is a requirement, while for others simpy to write is enough; … Continue reading →

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Striving for Perfection

Posted on June 4, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Striving for absolute shiny perfection is the worst thing for me. No, really. My idea of perfection is just a little too perfect. I could go mad, trying to write the Platonic ideal story; I know I could. I could … Continue reading →

Posted in writing, writing process | 6 Comments

How Times Change!

Posted on May 29, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

How times change! On this day in 2003, I noted in my journal that I wrote 183 words on the novel I was writing at the time. That is, 183 words all day. Now, I very, very rarely allow myself … Continue reading →

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Books on Writing

Posted on May 28, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

I have a few favorite books on writing which I’d like to share. Links are to Amazon.com. This is my favorite, which I enjoy reading for itself as well as for what it teaches me: Steering the Craft: Exercises and … Continue reading →

Posted in writing, writing craft | 7 Comments

Writing Goals

Posted on May 27, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

What are your goals for writing? I was thinking about this recently, and realized I needed to make some new goals. My first goal was sell a short story. I did quite a bit of that, all the while with … Continue reading →

Posted in writing, writing process | 6 Comments

For the Love of My Netbook

Posted on May 26, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Whenever Timmy falls into a well, my netbook comes to fetch me…well, no. Not really. But sometimes I feel like my Acer Aspire One has saved from from a dreadful fate. For example, if I’m stuck in an airport, and … Continue reading →

Posted in writing | 4 Comments

The Obligatory Writing-Music Post

Posted on May 18, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Writers often have a close relationship with music. Some write in silence, but those who write while music is playing are often very opinionated on what sort of music they choose, even to constructing playlists for particular novels. I’m a … Continue reading →

Posted in writing, writing process | 5 Comments

Reading For The Writer

Posted on May 11, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

One of the most important things I do as a writer is read. I don’t think it’s possible to become a writer unless you’re a reader first, and for most writers, reading is as integral to their development as writing … Continue reading →

Posted in reading, research, writing, writing craft | 2 Comments