This Week's Writing Links

This week’s writing links feature weird writing habits of famous authors, Flavorwire’s best debut novels of 2011 (including Karen Russell’s ‘Swamplandia!‘), famously outrageous opening lines in literature and a picture of the typewriter I got for Christmas.

So, my girlfriend was cool enough to get me a Remington typewriter for Christmas and I have been mildly obsessed with the thing since receiving it. I have been typing up a poorly spelled often incoherent storm, but enjoying myself nonetheless. So far, the typewriter’s best feature? No internet connectivity. This means there are minimal distractions while typing on it. A seriously underrated feature for the often distracted writer.

As backwards as it sounds, I have found myself writing more since getting a typewriter. Even though I have to transcribe whatever I write on the typewriter back into a word file and lose out on efficiency in the process, I still find myself writing a greater volume at a quicker pace. I’m not about to go full-on Cormac McCarthy, but I know that I will continue to use it to punch out some pages now and then. It’s a lot of fun to have around.

Also, it should be noted that December 26 – January 1 usually operates as an odd period of limbo for productivity, or well, really a virtual standstill for anything other than consuming leftovers, buying lottery tickets and returning that second snuggie/third pair of e-tip gloves gifted to you. It’s certainly fine if you want to take it easy until New Year’s, but I also feel that there’s no reason not to try to be productive in these couple of niche free days if you really want to get some forward momentum going into 2012. You’ve already got yourself a fresh snuggie and the number to Peapod’s delivery service. So, it’s time to conjure up your reclusive writerly best. Get going!

Links:

– Weird Writing Habits Of Famous Authors (flavorwire)

–  Top 10 Most Outrageous Opening Lines In Literature (alternativereel)

– Best Debut Novels Of 2011 (flavorwire)

– Av Club Reviews ‘The Life And Times Of Dave Grohl’ (avclub)

– Do You Even Need A Publisher Anymore? (writersdigest)

– Sci-fi Cover Smackdown (sfsignal)

– Concept For The Wachowski’s New Movie ‘Cloud Atlas’ (io9)

– Nebula Awards Interview: Jack McDevitt (sfwa)

– January Releases In Science Fiction (tor)

– KC Shaw’s Cover For Her January Novella ‘Goldie’ (knottedthicket)

– Suzy Turner: Indie Cover Love (suzyturner)

– 10 Science Fiction Movies For People Who Think They Don’t Like Science Fiction (io9)

– A Picture Of My New Typewriter (twitter)

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