Category: My Day to Day Musings and Opinions
+ Fantasy Writing, Fiction Writing, History or Alternate History Writing, Mystery & Thriller Writing, Science Fiction Writing, Thoughts on Writing, Uncategorized
Writing Morally Complex Characters
by Cindy Grigg
I’ve found that writing morally complex characters boils down to simultaneously setting them up to fail and succeed. At some juncture in the story, even a “good” character should seem just as likely to make the wrong choice as the right one! Strong characters are described in layers so that by the time they reach a decision point, readers legitimately wonder what this character … Read More Writing Morally Complex Characters
+ Beloved Quotes, Fantasy Writing, Fiction Writing, History or Alternate History Writing, Mystery & Thriller Writing, Productivity, Science Fiction Writing, Thoughts on Writing
My Top 10 Songs About Writing – #ToWriteTo
by Cindy Grigg
My iPod includes several songs which are either directly or indirectly about writing. For whatever reason, they inspire me to keep going with my writing projects. Here’s my list, in hopes that you’ll add yours (here or on twitter with #ToWriteTo). I need some new tunes! 1. Open Book by Cake – While I realize this is a song about more than a woman writing … Read More My Top 10 Songs About Writing – #ToWriteTo
Emma Stone Fights Sexism with the Superpower of a Simple Question
by Cindy Grigg
Standing up against what you believe to be an incorrect idea can be tricky. I know I’ve royally botched up important conversations in myriad ways. That’s why I love the awesome example Emma Stone set recently while being interviewed with her boyfriend and fellow The Amazing Spider-Man 2 actor Andrew Garfield. She showed incredible grace while confronting sexism, and thereby acknowledged how the seemingly … Read More Emma Stone Fights Sexism with the Superpower of a Simple Question
Comic Con FanX 2014. . .Costumes and Recap!
by Cindy Grigg
As a panelist for this past weekend’s Comic Con FanX 2014, I had a bird’s-eye view of some amazing trends in speculative fiction. Perched up there among other fabulous authors, filmmakers, and comic artists, I tried to add a relevant chirp or two, which I will be blogging about topically in case you missed attending the con. I loved the questions and comments from … Read More Comic Con FanX 2014. . .Costumes and Recap!
Why I’m Pretty Much Anti-Princess These Days
by Cindy Grigg
I have been as entertained by princess and prince stories as anyone, but I am fundamentally at odds with these stories and wonder what the world might be like without so many of them. What-if-ing is always a tricky game to play, because who’s to say what subtle benefits I’ve reaped from being raised in a princess culture? But trying to think of what some of … Read More Why I’m Pretty Much Anti-Princess These Days
+ Equal Rights, History or Alternate History Writing, My Day to Day Musings and Opinions, My Resolve for 2014: Congruency, The Intriguing 1920s, Utah History
What I Do and Don’t Love About National Women’s Equality Day
by Cindy Grigg
On National Women’s Equality Day, August 26th, I am certainly glad that women in the U.S. are no longer harassed, manipulated, or shamed out of their fundamental and not male-conceded right to vote. But I dislike the name of the holiday, only because: Equality encompasses about a thousand things beyond voting. How many other social groups were wrongfully delayed their right to vote in … Read More What I Do and Don’t Love About National Women’s Equality Day
On Sniffing Books
by Cindy Grigg
“You must write every single day of your life…You must lurk in libraries and climb the stacks like ladders to sniff books like perfumes and wear books like hats upon your crazy heads… may you be in love every day for the next 20,000 days. And out of that love, remake a world.” – Ray Bradbury
You Must Write It
by Cindy Grigg
“If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” – Toni Morrison
Drunk on Writing
by Cindy Grigg
“You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.” – Ray Bradbury, Zen in the Art of Writing
Write What Wants to Be Written
by Cindy Grigg
“You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.” – Madeleine L’Engle
Never Consciously Place Symbolism
by Cindy Grigg
“I never consciously place symbolism in my writing. That would be a self-conscious exercise and self-consciousness is defeating to any creative act. Better to get the subconscious to do the work for you, and get out of the way. The best symbolism is always unsuspected and natural. During a lifetime, one saves up information which collects itself around centers in the mind; these automatically … Read More Never Consciously Place Symbolism
