Woo Wednesday

We’ve reached another Wednesday, and that means it’s time once again to celebrate the things that are making us excited this week.

Woo Book

I love Chuck Palahniuk’s work. He’s subversive and ironic and seems deeply wise in finding nothing sacred. Besides, he just seems like a dude I’d like to have a drink with and talk about writing, you know?

Anyway, he recently put out a book about writing. Consider This: Moments in My Writing Life After Which Everything Was Different is a compilation of his thoughts on several issues of craft peppered with anecdotes from his writing life and homages to important people who helped shape him and his writing. It’s less self-reverential than On Writing*. It also has some really great, instantly applicable advice on how write gooder.

I’m working on a short story at the moment and I’ve used a few of his tricks. I’m not sure this is a great beginner writer resource since a lot of his advice goes against the grain of traditional advice. I think it’s important to understand why these subversions work and that requires you to first understand what’s being subverted. So learn your basics. Then break the rules.

*Yes, I liked On Writing and I’ve read it multiple times. I just don’t find it as useful in terms of writing advice as everyone is always claiming. It’s a nice memoir on writing and, like all of King’s work, it’s nostalgic and well-written.

Woo Self-Care

Several years ago, I started meditating to help deal with stress and anxiety. I, by no means, want to present myself as some sort of meditation expert. I just know I feel better when I unplug for a bit. I sort of think of meditation like defragging my hard drive.

Anyway, I’ve used several apps, but lately I’ve settled on Oak, which is free and the basic options are pretty straightforward. They having guided meditation, unguided options, breathing exercises, and a Sleep mode where it’ll play nature sounds on a timer. This last bit is my lifesaver when I’m in New Orleans because living part of the time in the French Quarter is fun but it ain’t quiet.

If you’ve never done meditation and want to understand how to do it “properly” then I’d suggest seeking out Headspace or Sarah McLean (not to be confused with the other Sarah McLean who write awesome historical romance), who taught me meditation. But if you’re just looking for a way to relax and don’t need all of the spiritual stuff, then this might be a good choice for you.

Woo Learning

For those of you who aren’t paid subscribers to Wells Writing Workshop, you missed out on the final installment of my Promises and Payoffs lessons. I shared a downloadable workbook to print out and use to guide the revision process using the P&P principles.

Upcoming topics include: How to read like a writer, plotting/pantsing/puzzling your story, world building for speculative genres, world building for everyone else, and lots of posts on how to survive a creative career. Subscribers will also get special goodies like invitations to write-ins and interviews with other writers about how they do what they do.

If you sign up now, you’ll get 20% off your subscription for the life of this newsletter.

Woo Words

I’ve been writing again. I had occasion while writing yesterday to use the word “sycamore” and it made me stop and smile. It’s a beautiful word. Which got me thinking about other beautiful words that I love.

Shenandoah. Fecund. Quiver. Petrichor. Ephemera. Chiaroscuro. Rococo. Obscure. Wonder. Eloquence. Epiphany. Morose. Luscious. Bauble. Caliope. Flourish.

Did you know I once wrote an erotic short story about a woman whose kink is hearing beautiful words? It’s true. It’s called “Aural Sex” and you can find it in this anthology. Warning: Mine was one of the more tame stories, but if you’re someone who’s not afraid to mix politics and sex, then this antho is for you.

Anyway, what are some of your woo words?