Christine is the blogger behind BetterNovelProject.com, where she’s breaks down the key parts of three popular works of fiction and shares her findings. These are her good things.
Good things to read.
Matilda by Roald Dahl. As I work on my YA novel, I’ve been rereading my favorites from when I was little. It’s great to experience the wonder again, and at the same time, take the story off of the pedestal. You don’t realize as a kid how much you are filling in with your imagination. It’s a nice surprise to go back and see it’s just one word after another, not actual magic.
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. This is might be the best book for writers that is not about writing. Any creative pursuit is a real mental game, and this book gets you in the zone.
I signed up for Jeff Goins’s newsletters and read them as soon as they arrive in my inbox. I’ve learned a lot about honest marketing and connection this way. It’s geared toward writers and bloggers, but it’s mostly about self-promotion in a manner that adds value into the world instead of sleaze.
Good things to watch.
Hugo. Martin Scorsese’s film version of the Brian Selznick’s book, The Invention of Hugo Cabrey. This movie makes me want to clutch my hands to my heart and sigh. More than anything, it makes me want to be a better writer. The “everyday magic” is just lovely as a movie, especially when woven in with bits of real life film history.
Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth with Bill Moyers. I will read or watch anything concerning the hero’s journey. This DVD is especially worth it to see the bonus interview with George Lucas, who explains how myths inspired Star Wars.
Alice in Wonderland, The Disney Version. This will always be my favorite, and one of the only movies I can tolerate to put on “in the background” while I do other things I find it very soothing even on mute.
Good things to use.
Time Timer. This is my productivity must, because it doesn’t involve my phone, and unlike apps or my computer clock, I can put my my writing program into fullscreen and be distraction-free. As a bonus, it doesn’t make the annoying tick-tock like a normal kitchen timer.
Kikkerland Kraft Notes. I recently changed over to these notebooks, and I am hooked. The paper is really thin like onion skin, but somehow even inky pens don’t bleed through it. I love the natural brown color, and I feel less intimidated by the price that I am willing to write down all my ideas, instead of waiting for the good ones that are “worth it.”
Moleskine book light. Don’t go to sleep without an open notebook at your side! You might be more willing to force yourself out of that in between state and get your ideas down with this cute bendable book light.
Connect with Christine on Twitter, @BetterNovelProj.
