In a writing class I took a few years ago, we were asked to bring in an object that was important to us. In class, we were asked to write a story inspired by the object, or the story of that object. One of the most unusual objects was baby teeth!
Another favourite author of mine is PG Wodehouse. His use of comic wit and sense of absurd as he satirises his world provide a unique writing style, and are a pure delight to read.
If you're not a fantasy fan, then you may not have come across Trudi Canavan. Trudi is an Australian author of several series: The Black Magician; The Age of the Five; The Magician's Apprentice and Millennium's Rule. Several of her books have won awards, and you can read more about her on her website.
Einstein said Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. It's one of my favourite quotes, and has been on my mind lately.
For many writers, their family is an asset, they are supportive, engaged, and their antics can provide a wellspring of inspiration. For others, the demands of family can be a frustrating hurdle that prevent a writer from completing a masterpiece.
There is a simple way to improve your writing skills - write and keep writing.
Finding markets which are open can be challenging. Many publishers won't take a manuscript unless it comes from an agent, and an agent won't sign you without a publishing contract. This is one of the great conundrums of writing!
Estate agents always say Location is everything, and it's a good mantra for a writer to follow.
Like many authors, I used to struggle with writing a synopsis for my stories. It's hard to know what to leave in, and what to leave out, how to make it pithy, and grab the reader's interest.
Writers often struggle so much to get going with their writing, that once they are writing, they don't want to stop, so it seems counter-intuitive to talk about setting an end point in your daily writing. But, knowing when to stop can be a helpful tool in completing your writing projects.