29 December 2014

What Would You Do?

By Fran Rizer


John Quinones

Some of the scenarios have been:

A mother and her children are unable to afford their dream




mediate the situations.



A child's temper tantrum can spoil dinner at a restaurant.










  1. My tiny, five-foot-nothing mother fearlessly corrected children in public. She did it in such a way that the mothers were probably afraid she'd box the parents' ears.

    I've intervened in bullying from time to time but I recall only once correcting parents in a grocery store. The trick is a firm, thoughtful, moderate response that doesn't make the parents look bad.

    Fran, I think the best beginning advice is to learn to accept criticism and even embrace it. Without that ability, a writer's career is over before it begins.

  2. Excellent advice, Leigh. Through the years I've encountered several writers who always argued against critique with, "But that's how I meant (or wanted) it."
    From things you've said, I would have enjoyed knowing your mom!

  3. I hope you get better soon, Fran.
    My basic advice to aspiring writers is what I gave someone just yesterday in the grocery store: "Write at least 20 minutes a day, every day, whether you feel like it or not. Oh, and read everything you can get your hands on."

  4. I think the best writing advice is: Don't give up.

  5. Whenever the husband & I are out shopping, and there are whiny children in the store, he likes to say: "Louder!" About 99% of the time, the child becomes very quiet!

  6. Eve and John, great advice from each of you! Elizabeth, my sons would be appalled if I did as your husband does, but I'd love to try it.

  7. Don't imitate the successful--thousands of others already doing that. Study good writers, but don't ape them. If you are trying to write the next Hobbit trilogy, stop. Write your own story.

  8. David, I agree with your advice. Thanks for reminding us.


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