Yesterday, while trying to write well (or I should say rewrite well), it finally hit me. I had been agonising over the written drafts for my book for months, to make sense of what I wrote. The various paragraphs and chapters needed a serious re-look. Somehow, despite having followed a carefully mapped-out process and structure, … Continue reading To write well? Go from “here to there”, small and slow.
Category: Writing
The Value and Pleasure of Re-reading
I've written many posts about the art of writing but today, I thought I would take a step back to consider a basic fact: Writers are first and foremost readers. In days gone by, when life was simple and serene, an evening of pleasure and joy often meant sitting down on one's favourite living room … Continue reading The Value and Pleasure of Re-reading
Margaret Atwood on Writers: “We’re duplicitous!”
Photo by CBS via Getty Images You sit and you slog, trying to write something brilliant for posterity. You dig deep to pull out the gems from the inner mines of your very heart and soul, your very being. Gems that you believe are there. Out of sight but waiting to be discovered, like a … Continue reading Margaret Atwood on Writers: “We’re duplicitous!”
Zadie Smith on Writing: “It’s a Performance!”
Picture from ABC.net.au Yesterday was the official start of our annual Singapore Writers Festival (SWF) happening between Oct 30 and Nov 6. As with most events this year, practically everything in SWF would be conducted online. Now the kick-off event last evening threw up a name that I had heard of but whose work I … Continue reading Zadie Smith on Writing: “It’s a Performance!”
Writing is really hard work – let no one tell you different!
If you've been following and reading my blog for a while now, let me first say a big Thank You! Cos, make no mistake, writing IS hard work. So having an audience really affirms my efforts! Here's hoping as long as I keep at it and keep posting, you'll keep reading and (maybe) keep helping … Continue reading Writing is really hard work – let no one tell you different!
No more excuses! Be “Consistent” and Write Daily
Since the start of July, I’ve not been writing after the kids go off to sleep, and it feels both natural and unnatural. Natural because before this year, I never had that discipline, so the 'me' right now is also the 'me' pre-2020. Unnatural because, since the year 2020 started, I wrote non-stop every night, … Continue reading No more excuses! Be “Consistent” and Write Daily
My Writing Process #3: The Rewrite Phase – Step 3 “Where the rubber meets the road”
Oh dear. My writing coach is going to shake a fist at me when she hears what I’m about to say: “I’m stuck.” You see, according to her, I’m not supposed to be. But I kinda am right now. Sighhh.... I know she was talking more about the first draft when she says there's no … Continue reading My Writing Process #3: The Rewrite Phase – Step 3 “Where the rubber meets the road”
“Happy ‘Blog-Day’ to me, it’s my 100th entry!” – Musing My Milestone as I Mark My 100th blog post
Woohoo!! Sweet!!! I made it. My 100th blog post! Unbelievable 100 posts ago... ...Still unbelievable 100 posts later. Never thought I could come this far since April 20th last year, when I uploaded my first blog post ever. So as I was pondering how to make this 100th blog post a memorable one, I did … Continue reading “Happy ‘Blog-Day’ to me, it’s my 100th entry!” – Musing My Milestone as I Mark My 100th blog post
Editing is the spade work it’s supposed to be – My Rewrite Reckoning
I remember a game we used to play in those staff bonding retreats, back when I was still a "staff". We would form into a few groups, each group standing in a circle. Every person would put out one hand in the centre of the circle to grab another person's hand. Then, with the other … Continue reading Editing is the spade work it’s supposed to be – My Rewrite Reckoning
Conversations in My Head – Stress or Solace?
For as long as I can remember, I have always had an active mind, ever since I was a wee lad (do people still say that?). I think it has to do with the fact that I was pretty much on my own most of the time during my childhood. When I’m not at school, … Continue reading Conversations in My Head – Stress or Solace?