Category: Writing

Wanna be a writer? You should probably read these books.

On By D.A. CampisiIn Life in general, WritingLeave a comment

Far be it from me to give advice on how to write. That isn’t really my forte, nor do I feel it is my place as I have yet to build an impressive set of writing credentials. Sure, I’ll throw out a fun writing prompt from time to time, but that is as much for my benefit as it is for anyone who reads/uses it.

Still, if you want to write fiction well, increase your skill, and just give yourself a greater knowledge on how to go about the craft of writing, you could do worse than reading the following books. Each of them has been a fantastic help to me both creatively and structurally.

OSC BookHow To Write Science Fiction & Fantasy
By Orson Scott Card.

If you have any inkling about writing speculative fiction, you should read this book. Even if you disagree with the author’s political views, you should read this book. This book is a fantastic resource with a ton of general knowledge on actual factual science, brilliant ideas on fantasy concepts like mythical creatures and magic, and basic sci-fi and fantasy story structure for both short stories and full length novels. This book also stands as the only instructional book that has inspired me to write a new novel from something factual I learned reading it.

book-cover-on-writingOn Writing
By Stephen King

For my money, this is hands down the best book on how to write. Period. Half an autobiography of the author, the other half an inspiring instruction on craft that will make you feel empowered to write more and write often. While reading it you will learn important “rules” on how you should be writing that you most likely hadn’t even thought of before, and after reading this you will feel like you can succeed at being a writer. If I need a little push of motivation, sometimes I will break out this book and read one of the middle chapters at random. After that, it’s butt in chair, fingers on keyboard, and away we go.

birdbybird
Bird By Bird
By Anne Lamott

If there is a better book on overcoming obstacles, coping with writer’s block and pushing through it, and increasing your flow as a writer, I haven’t found it.  Not only that, it is a very entertaining read with a healthy dose of instruction on everything from plot to character and more. Also, a great book for people who have thought about getting into writing but were intimidated by the thought and scope of it.  Give it a shot.

There are a ton of other excellent books and resources I’m leaving off, but these are the three that have inspired me most over the years. If you have not read them, and you are a struggling with your craft, you should head to your local library, Barnes and Noble, or Amazon and pick up a copy (or three). They will help, I promise.

Till next time,

DC

Writing Prompt – The Museum 

On By D.A. CampisiIn WritingLeave a comment

Your character decides to go to the art museum on a whim.  While inside, they see one exhibit that fascinates them.  On a closer look, this particular item seems very different than the others around it, maybe familiar, maybe out of place.  The museum curator sees them taking such a keen interest and…

What happens?  

Hope this stimulates some ideas.  I know it did for me.

– DC

What’s in a name?

On By D.A. CampisiIn Life in general, Writing1 Comment

Recently, I’ve been having an internal debate with myself on a very particular question.  One that is somewhat important when it comes to my writing, and with that my public/social network persona.  It has to be a question many writers ask themselves at some point when preparing for their career.

Should I write under a pseudonym?

It’s a valid question, and deciding whether or not to use a nom de plume is not as easy a decision as you might think.  You have to take a lot of factors into account.  First off is, how much do you like your real name?  Is it easy to pronounce and/or spell?  Does your name fit the genre you write?  Do you share a name with someone who is already published? Do you want your real name bouncing around out there in the social cyberspace?

These are just a few of the things I’ve thought about in the time before the book is picked up by a publisher. There are a slew of other questions to take into account when you finally do reach the stage of being published.  Where will your book be shelved at the local bookstore?  Toward the top shelf?  At the bottom shelf?  What other authors will be surrounding your book?  Do you plan on writing in multiple genres?

Personally, I’ve never much cared for my last name. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to be part of the family I’m in, and I am proud of my heritage.  But after going through years of butchering mispronunciations from nearly everyone I meet (Cam-pez… Cam-pasi… Cam-pies…etc.) it becomes a little grating.

So would I be better suited using a name that rolls off the tongue easily?  Maybe one that is more memorable?  Or shorter?

No decisions yet, but something to think about.

– DC

Writing Prompt – The Cancer Man 

On By D.A. CampisiIn WritingLeave a comment

Let me paint a picture for you.

Around the corner from your home, there is a man who sits in a lawn chair next to the side of the road, tanning himself.  He’s a large man with skin the color of a charred orange peel, and curly white hair that covers every inch of his body but the top of his head.  A pair of expensive sunglasses shade his eyes, and the sparse amount of clothing he wears covers little else. In one hand he holds a lit cigarette, and in the other a comically large cigar.  He takes intermittent puffs of each as he leans back and lets the sun continue to fry his skin into the equivalent of a pork rind. You can only guess what type of music is playing through the ear buds crammed into his sweaty ears.

You see him relaxing there in the hot sun for about an hour every day.  He’s been maliciously dubbed The Cancer Man by your best friend in some bizarre nod to The X-files character.  However, the man seems friendly enough whenever you walk by, giving a cordial smile of stained teeth and a raspy “Good afternoon.”

Your writing prompt, should you choose to accept it, is to tell a story about this man and why he does this daily ritual.

I look forward to seeing any ideas or stories below.

– DC

Story Ideas

On By D.A. CampisiIn WritingLeave a comment

When I was younger, I used to think that I had a finite number of stories I would be able to tell in my life.  As if there was a limit on novel ideas or inspirations for short stories that my brain would allow itself to spit out.  The reason for this was I could go weeks or months without a single idea spark.  You know, that moment where the muse hits you and you say “Hey I could expand on that” or “What if this had happened instead?”  They were few and far between for me.

Over the past few years, I have come to realize that these sparks have always been there and I just wasn’t looking hard enough to find them.  They hide in strange and simple places.  You have to realize that even something like a remembered childhood experience or a unique fortune cookie can open new worlds.

What are some sparks you have had?  What kind of gateways have they opened?

Till next time,

DC