Lines from Linda

Write Faster, Write Better

You learn something new every day, I suppose. I recently learned to double check my shopping cart at Amazon.com before clicking the "check out" button. You see, I'd accidentally put two of the same book in my cart without realizing it, and now I own two copies. That's good news for you, though, because first of all, it's a great book, and second, I plan to give away the extra copy in a drawing the end of February from the names of all who leave a comment on my personal blog, my main web site, or Fiction Fundamentals site during February 2008. (Sorry, Spammers, but you don't get your name put in the pot!)

The book, Write Faster, Write Better, by David Fryxell, is excellent for those who, like me, can find almost anything else to do besides actually write. Fryxell takes the lessons he learned from years of writing on a constant deadline in a 3-column-a-week job and presents them in a way that any writer, both fiction and nonfiction, can use. In fact, Fryxell's book has special sections for nonfiction writers and novelists.

Whether you're time-challenged, organizationally challenged, idea-challenged--whatever is keeping you from getting it done, Fryxell has a plan that can help you write faster and better. The book offers tips for overcoming writer's block, disorganized writing, and even a spiel about overcoming "finishphobia" with tips on bringing your writing to a satisfying ending.

From the back cover:

Every writer has felt the pressure of a deadline. Writing is a challenge: there are the problems of getting started, feelings of writer's block, and numerous interruptions lying between you and a finished piece. This book is your guide to getting through that obstacle course with success.

In Write Faster, Write Better, author and editor David A. Fryxell shares his secrets for writing faster while boosting your creativity and the quality of your work. He guides you step-by-step through the writing process to help you create a publishable manuscript in less time. You'll learn how to:

• Organize your time, ideas, and files


• Find your focus


• Develop story-worthy ideas


• Think like an editor


• Use smart Internet search strategies


• Pull it all together to beat writer's block


• Write faster fiction, nonfiction, scripts, and humor

Each chapter is full of rich examples to help you put Fryxell's principles into practice. You'll find specific exercises to help you start writing faster in your own work and overcome the challenges you face. Liberate yourself today with the proven techniques found inside Write Better, Write Faster.

Stone by Stone on the Oregon Trail

One of the highlights of our trip for me was stumbling across a book titled Stone by Stone on the Oregon Trail. We'd stopped by the Oregon/California Trail Center in Montpelier, Idaho, to experience their interactive Oregon Trail exhibit.

Upon our arrival, the hostess led us to a wall of paintings by the talented artist, Gary Stone, who happens to be from Idaho. (He illustrates for Disney.)

Stone's delightful works depict events recorded in diaries of those trudging the trail, and Stone painted each of the 40+ illustrations on site at actual trail locations from tales written in diaries. Plus, he has hidden within each scene his wife's name (Bev) as well as other hidden items that make the book fun.

The book's introduction and commentary were written by Stone's wife, Bev, who writes a newspaper column on Idaho history. Together, this couple has produced a fine and fun project that any American history or trail buff would love to browse. Yes, it's a bit pricey (I picked one up at the bookstore on sale for $45), but it's well worth it!