Resources for Publishing Your Writing
Taken from the May 2013 newsletter. Adventures in submitting The work of researching publications and sending out manuscripts has changed radically with the growth of the web which is both a good thing and a bad thing. In the old days, I had an intimate relationship with journals. As Borders and Barnes & Noble popped up (Sorry, there are no independent stores in my area) it became easier browse... Continue Reading
Video Writing Tip: Face Your Fears
Peter here with Murphy Writing’s very first Video Writing Tip. The process is so new to me that my finger is the star of the very first scene. Like all first drafts, I need to revise it. And I will—but I want to know your opinion first. I have a bunch of Video Writing Tips in my archives, but if you think they’re a terrible idea, I won’t inflict them... Continue Reading
Murphy’s Laws for Writers (Part I)
Poor Murphy. Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. You know you’re having a Murphy day when things go from bad to worse to terrible. What you may not know is that there are Murphy’s Love Laws (If he isn’t taken, there’s a reason), Murphy’s Military Laws (The only thing more accurate than incoming enemy fire is incoming friendly fire), Murphy’s Laws of Sex (If... Continue Reading
Leap before you look!
I know. You’re thinking I’ve got that backwards, and perhaps I do. Don’t look down. That’s me in the picture jumping off a cliff in Wales into the Irish Sea. The locals call this extreme sport coasteering, and it is both brilliant and terrifying. There sea was very rough on the last Saturday in August. The remnants of Hurricane Bill had kept our guide Alex off these cliffs for... Continue Reading
What are you afraid of?
Everyone is afraid of at least one thing. I am lucky because I am afraid of a lot of things: dogs, numbers, deer ticks, crowds, dying, clowns, loud people, trees, The Wizard of Oz (Those damn monkeys…), certain family members, peaches (Fuzz in my mouth? No way!), open mics, fairy tales (Ok, I still read them, but I shudder), priests, grass, high windows, germs, paper…let me catch my... Continue Reading
Murphy’s Revision Style Sheet
Murphy’s Revision Style Sheet 1. Eliminate clichés which are the vermin of imaginative writing. Initially fresh images, clichés have been taken over and made mundane by too frequent usage. They have lost their original authority, power and beauty. They raise their predictable heads (aaah, a Cliché!) in the early drafts of even the most experienced writers. Turning a cliché against itself by... Continue Reading
Currency Exchange Tips for Spain: $ to € – 2017
As you probably already know, the Euro (€) is the currency of Spain. The Euro is divided into 100 cents. Coins are available in the following denominations: €0.01, €0.02, €0.05, €0.10, €0.20, €0.50, €1 and €2. Bills are available in the following denominations: €500, €200, €100, €50, €20, €10 and €5. Have a... Continue Reading
Using Your Electronics in Spain – 2017
Chances are you’ll be bringing items on your trip that you will want to charge like a laptop, phone, tablet or camera. Most newer devices are dual voltage and will work with Spain’s 220/240 Volt standard. Here are the steps you should take to determine how to prepare for your trip. Verify your equipment supports the 220/240v standard. (Look at the battery, charger or documentation that came with the... Continue Reading
Dodge Foundation Interview with Peter Murphy
This interview, conducted by Rebecca Gambale of The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, originally appeared on The Dodge Blog on June 28, 2013. When did you first discover poetry? What poets made you want to write poetry? My aunt claimed that I wrote a poem when I was seven years old, “The Smells in Grandmother’s Kitchen,” that was published in the School Bank News, but I don’t... Continue Reading
5 Questions with Peter Murphy
This interview, conducted by Jennifer DeWitt of Playwrights Theatre, originally appeared as a part of the NJ Literary Artists Fellowship Showcase on the Playwrights Theatre Blog on October 15, 2013. 1. You were born in Wales and grew up in New York City. Does this make you an aggressive, yet polite poet? I’m not usually a rude guy and don’t believe in shocking an audience for the sake of... Continue Reading
