A
few months ago, I began exchanging chapters with a writer who has an
incredible skill with something called "time markers." I feel very
lucky to have her reading my chapters with time in mind. She has caught
my natural sloppiness the way a good editor might, saving me and my
reader from going off track and losing the story thread.
Friday, June 24, 2016
Friday, June 17, 2016
The Push to Do Risky Things with Your Writing
Risk
is a place where many creative writers live. We may not enjoy it but
we have to take risks to grow as writers. It's a risk every time we
send our work to someone for feedback, take a class, approach an agent,
or even when we finally get our books published.
Each risk takes us outside our comfort zone. But I find risk an essential element in my writing life. Without it, I repeat and repeat. I never get better.
Each risk takes us outside our comfort zone. But I find risk an essential element in my writing life. Without it, I repeat and repeat. I never get better.
Friday, June 10, 2016
Seven Days to Getting Unstuck with Your Writing
One
of my students recently emailed me about being stuck. He's worked on
his novel for several years now, relying on workshopping feedback to
keep him accountable. Recently he got some feedback from a hired editor
and, although he totally agreed with the comments and knew the editor
had nailed one of his manuscript's major weaknesses, he got stuck.
Friday, June 3, 2016
Thematic Threads: How to Build Them in Your Fiction or Memoir
When we finish a good book, something lingers with us. A friend
notices how we're still wrapped up in the story we just read. She asks,
"What was it about?" and we try to answer. "It's about a woman who
travels to India," we say, "but it's much more than that. You have to
read to understand."
That's theme.
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