Rob Parnell's Writing Academy Blog

Thanks to everyone who voted for me on the Critters 2011 poll. Much appreciated. I think we made it to Number One again! Woohoo, as Homer says - Simpson, not the famous Greek writer. This week I'm going to do the one thing that modern physicists apparently hate most - to try and equate quantum mechanics with self help. I say 'modern' because before Newton, scientists included lots of free thinking alchemists and philosophers who saw no conflict in mixing metaphysics with scientific practice and experimentation. Ironically, Newton himself wrote more about astrology, numerology and alchemy than he ever did about gravity. You'd think that scientists everywhere would learn from his example. Anyway, recently I've been reading a lot about the latest theories on quantum mechanics - you know, all that stuff that says that at the smallest point of existence, there seems to be nothing rational going on - nothing we can record 'properly' anyway. It seems nowadays quant...

How are things? Good I hope! I need a favor. I need you to vote for me on Critters . Last year the Easy Way to Write was voted Number One Writer's Information Source - and I'd really like us to get there again. Will you help? You just need to go here , scroll down till you find "Rob Parnell's Easy Way to Write" and vote. Pretty please - I'd really appreciate it! Thank in advance. Have you noticed that if you work in an office and have the temerity to criticize a system or a set of procedures, your boss will often counter with the suggestion that you write a report. I know. This used to happen to me a lot - when I worked nine to five. My own fault of course. I shouldn't have opened my mouth in the first place! Actually I used to like writing reports. One, they gave me an excuse to write. Two, I could analyze the system, the problem or the sets of procedures and then come up with improvements or solutions to offer to management. Reports are often the only wa...

Many people email me and ask if they need a college degree or a set of special qualifications to be a professional writer. The answer is a resounding NO! Writing is not like other ways of making a living, especially if you want to be freelance - that is, independent. Your education, while potentially a useful advantage, is not a prerequisite to success. In fact, I 've noticed that the more writing qualifications a person has - or aspires to get - the more difficult it seems for them to keep inspired enough to pursue a professional writing career. Which seems odd but not really... Writing is about creating, and loving the act of creation. Yes, it's about being a type of mini-god. It's about being continually inspired. And most times an inspired writer is a thousand times more compelling to read than any kind of formally educated writer. Have you ever noticed how dull a scientific or philosophical thesis can be? Have you thrown away a non-fiction book by a professor or a doct...