Friday, September 28, 2012

94 ~on writing

ZADIE SMITH’S 10 RULES OF WRITING

Zadie Smith. Photo credit: Francesco Guidicini


1.    When still a child, make sure you read a lot of books. Spend more time doing this than anything else.

2.  When an adult, try to read your own work as a stranger would read it, or even better, as an enemy would.

3.   Don’t romanticise your ‘vocation.’ You can either write good sentences or you can’t. There is no ‘writer’s lifestyle.’ All that matters is what you leave on the page.

4.  Avoid your weaknesses. But do this without telling yourself that the things you can’t do arent’ worth doing. Don’t mask self-doubt with contempt.

5.  Leave a decent space of time between writing something and editing it.

6.    Avoid cliques, gangs, groups. The presence of a crowd won’t make your writing any better than it is.

7.     Work on a computer that is disconnected from the internet.

8.    Protect the time and space in which you write. Keep everybody away from it, even the people who are most important to you.

9.    Don’t confuse honours with achievement.

10.Tell the truth through whichever veil comes to hand—but tell it. Resign yourself to the lifelong sadness that comes from never being satisfied.


 *****


Click to order  I say Who, What, and Where!
an inspirational novel about the courage to be oneself freely.

Click to order  Deconstructing INFATUATION
a thought-provoking novel about infatuation.

Copyright © 2012 by THE PYTHAGOREAN STORYTELLER. All rights reserved.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

93 ~book news

THURSDAY LINKS: THE CONSEQUENCES OF GROWING UP







  • Darkness and Death, No Magic to help. TheNYTimes





 *****


Click to order  I say Who, What, and Where!
an inspirational novel about the courage to be oneself freely.

Click to order  Deconstructing INFATUATION
a thought-provoking novel about infatuation.

Copyright © 2012 by THE PYTHAGOREAN STORYTELLER. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

92 ~winners

AND THE KINDLE COPIES GO TO…


1)    ARA C., a kindle copy of ‘I say Who, What, and Where!’

2)   C. LEE MCKENZIE*, a kindle copy of ‘Deconstructing INFATUATION.’

3)   ADELE SYMONDS, a kindle copy of ‘I say Who, What, and Where!’


CONGRATULATIONS!!!



Thank you all for your participation, and enjoy the reading!!!



*Note for C. Lee McKenzie: Please, to get your prize you must provide a valid e-mail address. Thanks!


 *****


Click to order  I say Who, What, and Where!
an inspirational novel about the courage to be oneself freely.

Click to order  Deconstructing INFATUATION
a thought-provoking novel about infatuation.

Copyright © 2012 by THE PYTHAGOREAN STORYTELLER. All rights reserved.

Monday, September 24, 2012

91 ~giveaway

INTERNATIONAL GIVEWAY! 3 E-BOOK COPIES OF YOUR CHOICE: I SAY WHO, WHAT, AND WHERE! or DECONSTRUCTING INFATUATION.


My Beloved Readers, today I’m turning 38! Young-Old-Only Words. Let’s celebrate it!

Before the party begins—the International Giveaway—, I’ll throw some tweet-thoughts.

#1 Bette Davis once said,’ Growing old is only for the brave.’ How’s preparing myself for climbing Mt. Everest without oxygen? #DoesWifiWorkUpThere?

#2 Have been receiving messages in a bottle. #OceanSpam.

#3 My doctor says ‘you are what you eat’ I eat chocolate coulants. #CrispyOnTheOutside #CreamyOnTheInside.

#4 No need a pen name. People love my elastic name. They call me ‘Marcie, Marcy, Marcella, Mercer, Merci, Marci, Marcea…’  #JustCallMeKim

#5 I have a huge calling. To dance tango in Buenos Aires. #FireDance

#6 Today’s Horoscope: Libra, the Sun is in your sign, it opens a new cycle for you. After a period of struggle and setbacks, you’ll enjoy the rewards of past efforts. Time of happy outcomes, material wealth, and greater spiritual awareness. #ThankGod

#7 Tweet Ad: Want to say Who, What, and Where? Click here. #Freedom #Happiness

#8 Now, a deep reflection. #LifeIsHilarious

#9 Today Camp nou—the largest stadium in Europe—is opened in Barcelona #RetweetedFrom1957

#10 A baby was born in 1974. Parents named her Merce. Doctor named her ‘The Artist’ #HappyBirthday


So to celebrate my birthday, and as I announced last week, I am giving away 3 kindle copies of your choice. The giveaway begins at 12:01 a.m. (EST) on 09/24 and ends at 12:01 a.m (EST) on 09/26.

Want to enter to win?

It’s easy. Just log in with Facebook or your e-mail. Choose your title: I say Who, What, and Where! or Deconstructing INFATUATION. (If you are under 18, your choice must be 'I say Who, What, and Where!  And voilâ!

Good Luck, my Dear Readers! 




a Rafflecopter giveaway



 *****


Click to order  I say Who, What, and Where!
an inspirational novel about the courage to be oneself freely.

Click to order  Deconstructing INFATUATION
a thought-provoking novel about infatuation.


Copyright © 2012 by THE PYTHAGOREAN STORYTELLER. All rights reserved.

Friday, September 21, 2012

90 ~on books

RICH CHOCOLATE CAKE à la IRVINE WELSH

 Who said the household chores were boring?

Credit: Wendy Macnaughton


Want to cook a rich chocolate cake?
Let’s cook it à la Irvine Welsh.


Need to apply sealant round a bath?
Let’s apply it with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.


Want to learn how to prune the Rose?
Let’s learn it from Pablo Neruda.





Copyright © 2012 by THE PYTHAGOREAN STORYTELLER. All rights reserved.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

89 ~book news

THURSDAY LINKS: ARE OLD RULES OF MARKETING DEAD ?













Copyright © 2012 by THE PYTHAGOREAN STORYTELLER. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

88 ~on creativity

DAMN GOOD ADVICE (FOR PEOPLE WITH TALENT!)


Damn good advice (for people with talent!) by George Lois.

“I don’t think I create anything. I’m really serious. I discover the ideas."

“If you understand how to think… If you have a background of graphic art, and you are a sports fan, and you’re literate, and you’re interested in politics, and you love opera, and ballet’s not bad either, and if you understand people… and you understand language, and you understand that product, and you understand the competitive products…and you put that all together in about ten minutes—the idea is there.”

Enjoy this interview with creative legend George Lois!





Copyright © 2012 by THE PYTHAGOREAN STORYTELLER. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

87 ~on artists

THE 9 WARNING SIGNS OF AN AMATEUR ARTIST




1.    AMATEUR ARTISTS WAIT FOR INSPIRATION. While a professional artist will make a point sit down and work on their art every day, an amateur only works on their art when the mood is right.

2.    AMATEUR ARTISTS WORK UNTIL SOMETHING ELSE COMES UP. A professional artist/writer/musician continues to work until their muse has used up every last bit of creative energy in their body and then keeps on working just to make sure that nothing is forgotten or left behind.

3.    AMATEUR ARTISTS ARE CONSTANTLY CHANGING THEIR FOCUS. A professional artist knows that it takes years if not decades of experimentation and practice to perfect their craft.

4.    AMATEUR ARTISTS BELIEVE THAT IF THEY BUILD IT, YOU WILL COME.  A professional knows that there is more to being an artist than simply creating art. They also have to know how to market and sell their work as well.

5.    AMATEUR ARTISTS BELIEVE THAT SUCCESS WILL HAPPEN QUICKLY. A professional artist knows that this process will often take much longer than they imagine.

6.    AMATEUR ARTISTS BELIEVE THEY DON’T NEED SCHEDULES OR ORGANIZATION. The professional artist knows that one has to be organized and disciplined in their life in order to be reckless in their work.

7.    AMATEUR ARTISTS NEVER FINISH THEIR WORK. Professionals artists have learned that their art is a process and nothing they create will be perfect.

8. AMATEUR ARTISTS ARE TOO BUSY LEARNING TO DO ANYTHING. Professional artists know that there will always be more to learn but that does not stop them from making the mistakes and learning as they go along.

9.   AMATEUR ARTISTS ISOLATE THEMSELVES FROM THE ARTIST COMMUNITY. As artists, writers, musicians, etc. we must surround ourselves not only with the work of other artists in our field but also the artist themselves.


For a full reading of the 9 warning signs of an amateur artist, check out Skinny Artist.






Copyright © 2012 by THE PYTHAGOREAN STORYTELLER. All rights reserved.

Monday, September 17, 2012

86 ~on celebrations

ANNOUNCING AN INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY: Sept 24, 2012.


Well, my Dedicated Readers, it looks like we’ve got plenty to celebrate this month. Yesterday, we had the first blogiversary. And on September 24th, I celebrate my 38th birthday!

Young, Old,


 Let’s celebrate it!


So for this unfrequent but desired event, I’ll open an International Giveaway of 3 kindle e-copies of your choice. The winner can pick either ‘I say Who, What, and Where!’ or ‘Deconstructing INFATUATION’1 Check them out by clicking the book covers on the left side.

Are you in?!

Stop by my blog, The Pythagorean Storyteller, on Sept. 24—it will also run on Sept. 25 to cover all time zones—enter your name, your book choice and your e-mail to win a kindle e-copy! The winners will randomly be picked by a software that runs giveaways.

Good Luck, my Dear Readers!



1 If you are under 18, your choice must be ‘I say Who, What, and Where!’


Copyright © 2012 by THE PYTHAGOREAN STORYTELLER. All rights reserved.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

85 ~on celebrations

HAPPY 1 YEAR BLOGIVERSARY!


I’m happy to announce that today The Pythagorean Storyteller is 1 year old. 

Happy Blogiversary!



Fortunately my Legitimate Readers still enjoy the posts appearing on this site and new Readers begin to trickle in to this site. So, ladies and gents, the show must go on!

According to Google Analytics Page Rankings, the top ten hits over the course of this year are the following. Enjoy!














Copyright © 2012 by THE PYTHAGOREAN STORYTELLER. All rights reserved. 

Friday, September 14, 2012

84 ~on ads


CLASSIC AMERICAN BOOK ADVERTISEMENTS


A book critic for the New York Times, Dwight Garner, offers a visual volume of more than 300 book advertisements. There was also a beginning for those acclaimed authors.

See below:

1925

1926

1948

1970



Copyright © 2012 by THE PYTHAGOREAN STORYTELLER. All rights reserved.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

83 ~book news

THURSDAY LINKS: AUTHORS’ PREROGATIVES

Photo Credit: Quirky-Gurl


An open letter to Wikipedia by Philip Roth. Page-Turner, The New Yorker.


Does Copyright matter? The New York Review of Books.


Act like a writer. Opinionator. TheNYTimes.


Copyright © 2012 by THE PYTHAGOREAN STORYTELLER. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

82 ~on old books

WHY DO OLD BOOKS SMELL?

For an answer, watch this video:





Copyright © 2012 by THE PYTHAGOREAN STORYTELLER. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

81 ~on creativity


HOW TO BE AN EXPLORER OF THE WORLD

Photo Credit: Geekdad





Copyright © 2012 by THE PYTHAGOREAN STORYTELLER. All rights reserved.

Monday, September 10, 2012

80 ~on writing

6 TIPS ON WRITING TO KEEP YOU FROM BEING NUTS


Photo Credit: The Austin Chronicle

“I know that no one really wants the benefit of anyone’s experience which is probably why it is so freely offered. But the following are some of the things I have had to do to keep from being nuts.”


1.     Abandon the idea that you are ever going to finish. Lose track of the 400 pages and write just one page for each day, it helps. Then when it gets finished, you are always surprised.

2.    Write freely and as rapidly as possible and throw the whole thing on paper. Never correct or rewrite until the whole thing is down. Rewrite in process is usually found to be an excuse for not going on. It also interferes with flow and rhythm which can only come from a kind of unconscious association with the material.

3.    Forget your generalized audience. In the first place, the nameless, faceless audience will scare you to death and in the second place, unlike the theater, it doesn’t exist. In writing, your audience is one single reader. I have found that sometimes it helps to pick out one person—a real person you know, or an imagined person and write to that one.

4.    If a scene or a section gets the better of you and you still think you want it—bypass it and go on. When you have finished the whole you can come back to it and then you may find that the reason it gave trouble is because it didn’t belong there.

5.    Beware of a scene that becomes too dear to you, dearer than the rest. It will usually be found that it is out of drawing.

6.    If you are using dialogue—say it aloud as you write it. Only then will it have the sound of speech.


John Steinbeck—Pulitzer Prize winner, Nobel laureate, and love guru—, the ParisReview.


Copyright © 2012 by THE PYTHAGOREAN STORYTELLER. All rights reserved.