Everybody wants to write a novel or a screenplay.  If you don’t, you’re lying to yourself.  And if you lie to yourself, you might just make a great writer.  People often resolve to write Something Grand right around this time of year, and so, now that we’re well into January, this is right about the time you forgot about wanting to write the Next Great Novel/Movie.  I’ve read too many good books on the writing life, writing stories, writing essays, writing plays and novels and poems and speeches.  This article by George Singleton may be the most practical, helpful How-To I’ve ever read on writing fiction.  And it may be the only How-To-Write-Fiction article ever to include an exercise in recycling aluminum cans.  Here’s part of what Singleton suggests on Day One:

Wake up early and sit in front of the computer, or open up a nice Mead composition notebook. It doesn’t matter. I will assume that you know what a short story is – basically a five thousand word piece of fiction with a recognizable beginning, middle, and end that involves a protagonist trying to best an antagonist. There will be rising action, and conflict, and dialogue, and maybe even a beautiful lyrical passage shoved somewhere in the middle when you’re not quite sure where the story’s headed [...] Anyway, write one thousand words on the first day.

Great advice, and so hard to do.