Author Archives: Maria McDonald
Only so many songs?
Hands up if you love you a little bit of early-90s Canadian punk rock! No, just me? Well, check out this tidbit: “Only so many songs can be sung with two lips, two lungs and one tongue.” I love Nomeansno, … Continue reading
Filed under Inspiration, Motivation
Permission to proceed imperfectly
I think I’ve lived a pretty charmed life. Most pursuits in life came easily to me—not the lottery or boys, unfortunately—but things like doing well in school and getting into university, or starting my career and making new friends. My … Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
The Fascination of a Name
It’s a shame that we don’t get to choose our own names. At different points in my life I wanted to change my name to something that had meaning for me. (Thank the stars I didn’t—I can’t imagine going through … Continue reading
Filed under Writing ideas
The long-weekend writing hangover
On any given day, I’ve got a bazillion tasks and responsibilities that keep me from my WIP. I work full-time, freelance in my spare hours, maintain a household (with a little help from my husband, AKA the Chef), cater to … Continue reading
Filed under Inspiration, Trials and Tribulations
Tax Tips for Writers
“Be wary of strong drink. It can make you shoot at tax collectors…and miss.” Robert Heinlein It’s tax season, and for me that always means the necessary frustration of figuring out what I owe the government on my freelance earnings. … Continue reading
Filed under Life and stuff, Trials and Tribulations
Link Envy
Here’s this week’s catalogue of blogs, websites, resources and other things that make our socks roll up and down. Restless Lori: Lori is on hiatus this week, and will be back next week, after she has eaten her weight in … Continue reading
Filed under Friday Links, Link Envy
Faking True Grit
I am surrounded by exceptional women. Within my own writing group and among the spunky Wordbitches out west, I see plenty of examples of women who have achieved truly amazing goals. They have completed novels; they have run marathons; they … Continue reading
Filed under Motivation
How to write naked
I’ve never been to a clothing-optional beach, but I have seen b-roll that accompanies news stories about these peculiar hot-spots. It’s not sexy, is it? All that pasty skin, sagging flesh, and the exclamations of “Good lord, is that my … Continue reading
Filed under Inspiration, Motivation
Practice makes perfect
Getting back to thinking about writing as a happy chore When I was a little girl, like other little girls, I had to take piano lessons. This was not a happy time for me. My piano teacher, Mrs. Kimpton, reduced … Continue reading
Filed under Motivation, Trials and Tribulations
Dr. Humperdinck, I presume?
When I was in grad school, I heard that female PhD candidates were still being told to publish under their initials rather than their names, because being a woman would impede their progress on the tenure track. We’ve come a … Continue reading
Filed under Getting published, Trials and Tribulations
Maria McDonald
bjas
Lori Dyan
questionimpossible
