“Venting Your Spleen”

Last week LB talked about overthink and an article in justpublishingadvice.com about using commas with the word “because.” This week we’re happy to present another article from the site, this one about the origins of the phrase, “Vent your spleen.”

Overthink again? Undoubtedly. But informative as hell. We hope you’ll agree.

read article

LB: New Writers Guide to Storytelling

by Larry Brody

I’m making this as brief as possible, which means I’m not explaining the “Whys” of these tips, other than with this preface:

This is the 21st Century. Storytelling, by which I mean plotting, ain’t what it used to be. The contemporary audience has seen and read and experienced at least as much as you have, which means MAKE SURE YOU KEEP EVERYTHING AS SHORT AS POSSIBLE SO YOU’RE NOT TELLING READERS/VIEWERS WHAT THEY ALREADY KNOW .  read article

LB sees Jay Leno’s Version of ‘You Bet Your Life’

by Larry Brody

The Good:

The Not So Good:

read article

LB: “Goodbye, Norm Macdonald”

by Larry Brody

Norm Macdonald, who died yesterday of cancer, at 61. was one of the funniest, brightest people I’ve ever met.

If art is what happens when your creations reveal your inner self, then he was an artiste extraordinaire in life as well as on the stage.

RIP, dood. Chill in peace. read article

LB: “How can I tell when my writing is good enough?”

Angry Judge Mandy Patinkin

by Larry Brody

New writers often ask the question in this post’s headline, and I always find myself pausing and giving thought to my answer…and sometimes even changing it from what I usually say.

This morning’s email brought two queries on the subject, and I found myself thinking about and changing my answer again. Right now, this very minute, here’s where my head is at:

Your writing is ‘good enough’ when you no longer ask yourself that question. read article