That Don’t Make NO Sense

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

I could probably title every post I ever write with a quote from O Brother, Where Art Thou?

When Pete says the above to Everett, his reply is one of the foundations of art: “It’s a fool who looks for logic in the chambers of the human heart.”

[image: chess: logic and art and art and logic]

During the final proofreading of A Long, Hard Look James discovered a logical anomaly. Since that’s part of his job, he done good. Next book he proofs, I expect no less.

I’m leaving it the way it is. Here’s why: … more … “That Don’t Make NO Sense”

Mixing Up My Art

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

Many artists don’t confine themselves to a single medium. You may know that besides writing nine non-fiction books and working on my second, third, fourth, and fifth mysteries all at once (whew!) I’m also a songwriter.

Writing songs with lyrics that don’t rhyme, or lyrics that don’t make any sense; writing songs with short lines, long lines; story songs, message songs, love songs, pain songs — I’m far more confident playing with words in my fiction than I was before I invested 10 years learning the craft of songwriting.

[image: tunehenge]

… more … “Mixing Up My Art”

Who’s Your Mentor?

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

Joel D CanfieldI was born precisely 9 months after Raymond Chandler died.

Perhaps there was only room for one of us at a time.

Perhaps that’s a stretch.

His books are what made me want to write. It took me ages to get a bunch of business books under my belt and develop the courage to try mysteries.
[image: Raymond Chandler]
I am particularly proud of my latest effort, A Long, Hard Look. It has been compared to Chandler, though once again, modesty (fear?) forces me to wonder if it’s a stretch.

I call what I write “Chandleresque cozies.” … more … “Who’s Your Mentor?”

Author Entrepreneur: Eight Essentials to Make Writing Pay the Bills by Pat Fitzpatrick

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

[image: Pat Fitzpatrick] Pat Fitzpatrick(Somehow this draft never got posted. Even though the linked article is 2 months old, it is excellent, well worth your time.

8 practical tips on making the transition from working for a living to writing for a living. Yes, that’s a joke. The article is not. Pat Fitzpatrick guest writing on Joanna Penn’s blog.

Why Do You Write?

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

[image: A Long, Hard Look – a Chandleresque cozy]Pressfield nails it again. Today’s post is about finding why, about asking yourself why you write, what you expect to happen.

And it’s about letting go of the stuff you simply cannot control.

He suggests asking yourself these questions:

  • Was this a worthy effort?
  • Did it call upon you to give more than you believed you had in you?
  • Did you conduct yourself honorably in the enterprise?
  • Did you give it all you had?
  • Did you succeed according to your own standards, the measures that only you know and only you can define?

I intend to market A Long, Hard Look as well as I can.

I intend to accept whatever level of commercial success it achieves, because I can answer “yes” to those 5 questions, and that’s what matters.

What Are You Reading?

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

[image: a little night reading] [photo by Zsuzsanna Kilian]Writers are readers. We get our ideas for stories, characters, complications and solutions from reading. We pick up new words and new ways to use old words. We absorb cadence, rhythm, pulse.

Any mystery-lover who reads A Long, Hard Look will see the influence of, not just Chandler, but Christie, Francis, Stout, and Asimov; perhaps even a twist of Richard Halliburton. The homage to Chandler is intentional, and Phil Brennan owes as much to Archie Goodwin as to Philip Marlowe.

There’s a cooking competition show called Chopped … more … “What Are You Reading?”

What Are You Writing?

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

[image: that's no stairway to heaven]This site has 20 to 50 visitors a day (the 50 happens on Fridays.)

I’d love it if every one of you would do me the huge favor of leaving a comment with a note about your current writing project. I’m curious what y’all are doing as writers, not just readers.

If you like, you can also share whether it’s going well or badly, and why you think that might be the case.

Maybe we’ll get 20 to 50 comments. You are all working on something, right?

Listening to Writing Advice. Or Not.

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

[image: I think it's a diving board]How do you know when to reject well-meaning but misguided writing advice, and when to gnaw your knuckles and knuckle under because someone else was given a brief clear glimpse of something you missed in your own work?

I’ve learned the answer to that the long hard way. It’s still more art than science.

Begin by asking yourself a few questions.

… more … “Listening to Writing Advice. Or Not.”

Where’s the Order, Where the Habit?

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

My unconscious is apparently toying with me. Write a post Monday about being orderly and habitual to reserve mental and emotional energy for art, and then don’t write posts the next two days.

This comes, perhaps, from not having specific goals, either targets to aim for or purposes for the actions. “I should write a post every day” isn’t meaningful. “Engaging with readers regularly builds loyalty” is a bit better.

[image: running the maze]

This year, my goal has been to write more mysteries. Our 3 businesses, Spinhead Web Design, Someday Box, and Chief Virtual Officer, are all doing what they do without much input or marketing effort from me.

After writing a 60,000-word mystery, one chapter a day, over at my personal blog, I may not post much there until there’s a specific reason. … more … “Where’s the Order, Where the Habit?”

How an Orderly Life Benefits Your Art

Posted on by Joel D Canfield

[image: rock paper scissors]You’ve seen the common perception of “artists” — disorganized, flighty, not always entirely in touch with reality. Mess and disorder, partying ’til all hours and sleeping in, drink and drugs and bad behavior of all kinds. Artists aren’t expected to behave like “normal” people because, y’know, they’re artists.

Truth is the more habits you institute in your life the better it is for your art. Here’s why.

Using Up Willpower

Exercise strengthens muscles. It also strengthens willpower.

Muscles get tired and have to rest.

So does willpower.

… more … “How an Orderly Life Benefits Your Art”