I admit it—my writing usually hovers on the Dark Side. I’ve written about a lonely old man caught in an earthquake, realizing he’s prepared to die, about a destitute single mother whose vision is so clouded by guilt she imagines her daughter’s … [Continue reading]
When Writing Hurts
Posted on September 20, 2013 ·
It doesn’t matter if you’re writing fiction or poetry, memoir or a diary—sometimes writing hurts. In fiction, a good writer does more than manufacture characters—he breathes life into them, he makes their hearts beat, he hears their voices when … [Continue reading]
800 Reasons to Submit Your Writing
Posted on September 13, 2013 ·
The writing part is hard enough. By the time you’ve crafted your essay, poem, or short story, you’ve been through countless revisions. Triumph and frustration. You’re exhausted, but ecstatic—because you’re done. Yay! Only, if your goal is to … [Continue reading]
Seeing Red? How to Respond to Your Editor
Posted on September 6, 2013 ·
First, breathe. It’s not easy being edited. When you first view your work with an editor's changes/comments/criticisms, there will be a moment when your heart freezes, and then it will start to burn. This is normal. Do not respond. Throughout … [Continue reading]
How to Trick Yourself into Writing
Posted on August 23, 2013 ·
Once, when I was about five, my mother tried convincing me to color a picture so she could get some housework done. She laid out a coloring book and a handful of bright crayons sure to tempt any little girl into 30 minutes of quiet, non-disruptive … [Continue reading]
“So, What’s Your Book About?”
Posted on August 9, 2013 ·
At a writing conference last year, I met a teenage boy who asked me what my book was about. Fair question. We were waiting for a judging panel to draw random names from a large crowd eager to “pitch” their book ideas. Only 20 people would get the … [Continue reading]
Surprise!
Posted on August 2, 2013 ·
On Monday, I sat peering over a birthday cake, surrounded by my son, daughter, and husband. A handful of flickering candles marked my 38th birthday. My three greatest wishes had already come true, but they were waiting, and the ice cream was getting … [Continue reading]
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