the writer's life Archives - Ann Anderson Evans

WHAT’S MY ELEVATOR PITCH?

An author must have an elevator pitch.

How To Write A Family Memoir

Anyone interested in writing a family memoir would be well advised to follow Cherington’s progress in writing the book, as she allows the reader to do.

Why Did the Class of ’59 Break the Mold?

Believing something and living it

2-MINUTE EXERCISES FOR SCREEN SLAVES: Breathe

Staring at a screen for along time, the chest naturally relaxes inward, restricting your breathing. These breathing exercises will introduce a rush of oxygen which will reinvigorate you if you’re tired, and the single nostril breathing is remarkably calming.

Scenes from France

Living in France was lovely, at least for ten days. I spoke French, ate and shopped French, and drove French. We ate foie gras, elaborate desserts, fried foods, butter, fragrant cheese; for breakfast we had croissants, and the occasional pastry. And we each lost two pounds. Terry says, “You know that book, WhyContinue reading “Scenes from France”

Virginia Woolf: How Jane Austen worked

“Jane Austen wrote like that until the end of her days. ‘How she was able to effect all this,’ her nephew writes in his memoir, ‘is surprising, for she had no separate study to repair to, and most of the work must have been done in the general sitting room, subject to all kinds ofContinue reading “Virginia Woolf: How Jane Austen worked”

Insomnia Overcome

A lot of my writing is done in my sleep – I wake up in the morning with the resolution of a challenge, a few choice words, a title to something, an idea for a new project, whatever.

Plagiarism — why I like it just a little bit

This is an unethical practice, but the business world is full of unethical practices. It is up to me to figure out a way to circumvent them.

Writing about other peoples' lives

Writing with the idea that “nobody will ever read it” would have been crippling. After publication, after a lawsuit has been filed, it’s too late to retract.