Matt Snyder’s online journal for writing as it happens, and life as it comes!
Posted in Fiction, On Writing, Works-in-Progress on Jan 22nd, 2009
In my experience there are two kinds of writer’s block.
The first kind of writer’s block is the dreaded blank slate. It’s that intimidating phase of creation where the entire universe of possibility is open before you, and you can’t write one shred of it because you don’t know where to even begin, perhaps even what [...]
Posted in Books & Reading, On Writing on Dec 3rd, 2008
If you’re looking for books on writing, look no further than the one-two punch of The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers by John Gardner and What If? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers by Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter. Oh, and don’t let that subtitle fool you on Gardner’s. It’s the best text there [...]
Posted in Books & Reading, On Writing, Recommended Reading on Sep 11th, 2008
No doubt like every other aspiring wordsmith, I read Stephen King’s On Writing. I’ve never been much of a King reader — just a few short stories and The Gunslinger. Still, I appreciate his work and success.
His memoirs on writing amused me. They might even have inspired. It’s not much of a book to review [...]
Posted in On Writing, Personal on May 7th, 2007
Today was a day of trains and zoos and Spiderman. My son turned three, and we spoiled him as much as we could. Pizza and waffles. Tigers and frogs. Cake! Oh my.
I’ve been reading Cryptonomicon, and finally reach that page count where I’m suckered in. Stephenson’s chapters are frenetic minutiae with kick-in-the-gut closers that keep me [...]
Posted in On Writing, Personal on Jan 12th, 2007
For over two years, my wife and I have tried to sell our 105-year-old home. This week, we did it under less than agreeable financial terms. We’re eager to move on.
Of course, this happened the week I started a new role at work managing a staff of seven.
I spent last night collapsed on the couch [...]
Posted in On Writing on Dec 20th, 2006
When I went to college, I went hoping to be a novelist. I left hoping to find a job as a journalist. Somewhere in between I pursued creative writing academically, and managed to take a few superb classes all while taking other classes on literature.
I left with a solid education. I knew next to nothing [...]
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