Writing – Page 4 – The Official Site of Jim Snowden

There’s a 63% Chance Your Script Needs A Sexy Sidekick Named Veronica

By jim_snowden May 8, 2013Movies, Writing

When I read this article about Worldwide Motion Picture Group--an outfit that runs screenplays through statistical analysis in hopes of figuring out what'll make them bigger hits--my thoughts turned to…

Any Suggestions For Ways I Can Attract More Haters?

By jim_snowden April 30, 2013The Larger World, Writing

Ann Friedman, who's spent more time thinking about this than I have, came out with a handy Disapproval Matrix today. I can't say if she's found the perfect framework for hater…

10 Hard-to-Translate Words

By jim_snowden April 21, 2013Writing

I'm particularly fond of "Jayus" and "Tartle", and hope to be instrumental in introducing them into the American English lexicon. (From Maria Khordorkovksy) Mamihlapinatapei From Yagan, the indigenous language of…

The Summer of Long Knives Playlist

By jim_snowden April 20, 2013Music, Writing

I write to music. I've never conducted any sort of survey to see how common that is among fiction writers, but I do it. The rhythm keeps me moving when…

Writers: Having Trouble Facing Rejection?

By jim_snowden April 17, 2013Writing

Rejection. All I have to do is write the word and everyone looks at their shoes and says "Yeah." And don't believe anyone who says "Rejection never bothers me." You…

I Won’t Watch. Don’t Ask Me.

By jim_snowden April 15, 2013Movies, Writing

The Onion AV Club started a conversation that got me thinking about the pop culture that I deliberately avoid, that I want to know as little about as possible. I…

10 Rules Of Being A Writer

By jim_snowden April 12, 2013Writing

Zadie Smith wrote hers. These are mine. 1. Be born in a country with a reasonably well-run public education system, or, failing that, be born into a family wealthy enough…

How To Build A Twitter Following Without Making An Ass of Yourself

By jim_snowden April 11, 2013Writing

Kelsye Nelson held this talk on Google a few hours ago. It's aimed primarily at authors like me (I saw it because I'm an author like me. Coincidence?) but anyone…

We Have A Situation Here

By jim_snowden April 4, 2013Writing

Of all the frequently asked questions tossed at writers, in letters, at readings, or in interviews, the reigning champion of frequency remains "Where do you get your ideas?" Now being…

Location, Location, Location: Fiction and the Anthropic Principle

By jim_snowden March 11, 2013Books, Writing

Nichole Bernier's blog post on locations and their impact on fiction got me thinking about the settings in my own work and why I picked them. Bernier starts her post…