Still searching for the perfect holiday gift for the writer in your life? Never fear, my annual list of holiday gifts for writers is here! Whether you’re looking for inspirational gifts, workspace upgrades, or pure indulgences, there’s surely something on this list that will tickle your writer’s holiday fancy. Home Office/Workspace Upgrades and Tools Indulgences…
Tag: craft
Filtering and Distance
Happy summer! I hope you’re writing under a deck umbrella or blue sky or even better, a leafy tree. I’m doing some leafy writing, but I’m also critiquing my college students’ short fiction, and this endeavor has prompted me to discuss “filtering.” “See if you can reduce some of your filtering,” I comment over and…
Seven Components of a Successful Novel Opening
Writing a compelling opening for your novel isn’t optional, it’s essential. That initial half-page of Chapter One is the first impression agents, publishers, and most important, readers get of your writing style and skill and often determines whether they’ll purchase your book or not. The good news is most people will give you a few…
The Myth of Talent
A couple of months ago on the old RMFW blog, I talked about the Myth of Craft. The Myth of Craft promises us that if you learn how to write the perfect book, you will get money, fame, and your own purse dog. I don’t buy The Myth of Craft like I don’t buy The…
The Myth of Craft
Craft. Meh I don’t buy the myth that if only I learn all there is to know about craft, that I will immediately write a bestseller and everyone will love my books. I don’t buy it at all. Because I’ve read bad books and I’ve read good books and in the end, sometimes the craft…