According to James Taylor...

I've always equated writing with any other type of creative experience inside "The Arts," most especially music.  Here's a great quote from the legendary James Taylor, about the process of writing music. I agree with him -- this is how writing feels to me, too, many times:

"Writing music is a lot like listening to music, but with a little extra 'something.' Often, the song just comes to me. In fact, I don't feel I've really written a song. I've just been the first person to hear it." ~James Taylor

13 Writing Lessons from Stephen King

Good stuff - link here

The "What If" Stage

For the first time in a long time, I'm getting back to writing.  I'm brainstorming a brand-new novel, and it's absolutely invigorating.  I'd forgotten how much I've missed it.

I'm at that fun "What If" stage, where anything in the characters' lives can  happen.  Where they live, who they are, what their backgrounds are, what they look like, etc.  So much fun.  Because there's all this potential out there, waiting to be discovered.

It's the stage where no ideas are permanently locked in.  Not yet.  It's that lovely and exciting Window of Exploration, where anything goes, anything is possible.

This might just be my favorite part of the process. 

Excellent Advice from a Pro

Elizabeth Berg is one of my favorite women's fiction authors.  Her work is thoughtful, profound, poetic, and clever. 

Today, she wrote a blog entry about what it takes to be a writer.

Here's the link.  Enjoy!

Calling All Downton Abbey Fans!

Maggie Smith has a new film coming out this month -- it looks wonderful (directed by Dustin Hoffman).

I adore everything British, more especially British movies.  Most especially ones that seem witty, intelligent, funny, and heartwarming.  Like this one does.

Here's the trailer: