Friday, May 4, 2012

A Writer's Advice: Be a Sponge


"In short, my advice to beginning writers, would-be writers, and even writers who are doing less than they feel they should be doing is the same, be a sponge. First you are a sponge. You have to soak up the world. When it comes time, wring yourself out on paper. But, you can't wring out a dry sponge. It has to soak 'it' up before it can release 'it.' It being everything, anything, all things worth the writer's and the reader's time." --Roger Caras


So, what will you be soaking up this weekend that might wring itself out on paper down the road? Hope whatever it is, your sponge becomes saturated with lots of great material! Have a good one...


photo: sxc.hu
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10 comments:

  1. I'll be going to my stepson's game, and will attempt to soak up the joys and frustrations of 14-year-old boys on the baseball field. I'll also be gardening with my toddler. Lots to soak up there :)

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  2. Jess--I'd say observing a group of teenage boys and gardening with a toddler could supply lots of writing material! Have a great weekend :-) And welcome back. It's good to hear from you.

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  3. Love this word picture! It's so true. We have to be part of life in order to write about it.

    ~Debbie

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  4. Thanks, Debbie. The thought is a good reminder, isn't it?

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  5. I will be reading a few books, I hope to soak in all the writing tips from them.

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  6. Such a good thing to remember, Kenda! This weekend I'm doing yard work, so I'll be soaking up nature.

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  7. Rachna, enjoy those books you're reading :-) and Andrea, soaking up nature is another great pastime. My activity was going to a bridal shower--where a few of us of the "older" generation gathered, but overall the group consisted of lively, chatty, and fun-loving 20-somethings. Made me (almost) wish I wrote YA...!

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  8. Ah, what a nice reminder to writers. Yes, you do have soak up things before you can produce anything. Today I am soaking up the last day of our visit to Spain. But I'm also soaking up research on Victorian London for a book I've been working on.

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  9. I'm one of those super absorbent kinds. I never want to stop growing and learning. :D

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  10. Some weird--maybe not weird--but things have been happening in our lives and I am writing it all down as it does!

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