Writers wrestle words. It’s in the job description. Sure, we start with letters and end up with War and Peace unless we’re careful, but the building really takes shape when we string words together into some kind of structure. Using the correct word, the one that means what we all think it means, matters. I…
Category: Blog
Your Authentic Voice
Novelist, news reporter, biographer, stand-up comedian, ventriloquist…so many professions rely on the performer to find their voice. But what does voice mean for a performer? And how do you find it? The answer is frustratingly vague…and so simple that it’s kind of hard to understand. The vague answer is that your voice is the manner…
Write like…
Write like your best friend just called to say she read the first fifty pages of your latest/greatest and she thinks it’s your best work yet. Write like tomorrow’s schedule is breaking rocks with a sledgehammer. Dawn to dusk. Write like you don’t care. Write like you understand, deep down, how much fun it is…
Do you suffer from post-book depression?
I just finished a book. When I reach this milestone, I always think I should feel happy and excited, or at least satisfied. Instead, my mood seems to turn gloomy and anxious. Maybe it’s the panic of knowing I now have to send my baby out into the world to face criticism and potential rejection….
Short Story Craft, Part 1: Plot
Short stories are a whole different animal from novels. Many writers (including me, a few years ago) shy away from short stories because they can be so difficult and frustrating. But once you get the hang of them, they’re an excellent way to hone your writing skills, play with new techniques, and get your name…