I Like Arbitrary Deadlines

Writing Is A Lie

Sat, 27 Mar 2010 09:50:48 -0400

Ooh! Dramatic, non? Just a short note on a great class that I’m taking at the Toronto Cartoonist’s Workshop. If you’re looking for inspiration, a better understanding of the mechanics of writing or if you just want to be told you’re brilliant (which I am,) sign up for Ty Templeton’s extremely useful writing class. You’ll never be uninspired again. Writer’s block? Who needs it. The tools are all there. He just shows you how to dig them up. Worth taking. It’s been a massive help on this project, since I’ve learned how to structure plot, map out my characters and create dialog that suits folks I just made up.

I Survived January

Fri, 5 Feb 2010 13:29:25 -0500

That was so not the month I intended to have. Did I get some writing done? Sure. Did I complete even remotely the amount of writing I wanted to? Hells no. Where did January go? How did a whole month slip past without a whole month’s worth of results?

I’ll be fair to myself and say that January was far more busy than it usually is. In fact, it seemed like I had plans popping up almost every day.

But as a writer, how do I make up for that lost time? I guess I just have to make February a month dedicated to this contest and very little else. Hopefully I wont offend too many people. Sorry if I ignore you. My other alternative? A million monkeys at a million computers.

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My First Day Of Writing At Broadview Espresso

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 22:34:18 -0500

As I suspected, Broadview Espresso was a great place to write. The music wasn’t to loud, but it was interesting and whimsical enough to provide occasional inspiration. The folks were great and didn’t seem to mind that I sat sipping and writing for a few hours.

I decided to go with tea, despite my love of coffee, since I’d already had two today. They offer a bunch of loose leaf teas, and I went with Earl Grey. For one reason.

A Place To Write

Sat, 9 Jan 2010 14:11:21 -0500

There was really only one choice when it came to picking a coffee shop. Broadview Espresso, a coffee shop housed in a former porn shop, makes the best coffee on the Danforth. I used to be a Starbucks devotee, but this little shop came along and opened up a whole new reality of caffeination.

Owned and run by Mike and staffed by a crew of talented and friendly baristas, Broadview Espresso is a neighbourhood gem. And Mike was nice enough to be my coffee shop sponsor for the Coffee Shop Author writing contest. Basically, he’s giving me a place to write that isn’t my messy apartment. And this place has coffee. Yum.

In the past, I’ve written parts of my novel for NaNoWriMo and more than one of my regular articles at Broadview Espresso. Rather than a change, this will represent an official continuation of my relationship with this great shop. They have always welcomed we artistic types, and we’re lucky to have them. If you want to pop in, these are their hours:

Mon-Fri: 7am-7pm
Sat: 8am-6pm
Sun: 9am-5pm

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