As we near All Hallow’s Eve, I thought it would be fun to search for some of the—shall we say, less stellar words of advice shared among writers. In keeping with the holiday, they’re only scary if you believe them. NEVER USE ‘SAID’ ‘Said’ is the invisible tag. Instead, make the reader slog through an…
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Q: Fiction or Nonfiction? A: Both.
I spoke to a writers’ group in Albuquerque, New Mexico, after the publication at age twenty-six of my first book, a nonfiction guide to backpacking and camping in developing countries. I described the vagaries of finding an agent and publisher, and revealed to the audience my real dream as a writer. I told the group…
Rocky Mountain Writer #103
Jennifer Kincheloe & The Woman in the Camphor Trunk Jennifer Kincheloe is back on the podcast and she’s got a brand new historical mystery coming out in just a few short weeks. The first book, The Secret Life of Anna Blanc, was a finalist for a slew of awards and also was winner of the…
Life’s Wake-Up Calls
For the past few months, I’ve been so focused on my own stuff that I realize I’ve been missing the bigger picture. Time to reevaluate. As some of you may have heard, we’ve been moving—downsizing—and I’ve been angsting over a variety of things: 1. Downsizing. How do you get rid of a thing that someone…
Driving for a Paycheck
I’ve finally figured it out! There are two signs on each car I drive seen only by Special Drivers. (Special, of course, meaning unusual, distinct, specific and obviously run-of-the-mill.) I’m sure the sign on the front bumper says, “Pull immediately in front of me, proceed really, really slowly, and then wash your windshield.” The sign…