GoodReads has a whole section on quotes about writing by household names like Stephen King and Annie Dillard and Mark Twain. Hemingway and Faulkner and Salinger jump in, too. Some quotes are wise, like Sylvia Plath’s assertion that “the worst enemy of creativity is self-doubt” and some are blunt like Chuck Wendig’s “try very hard not…
In my writing critiques I often advise authors to use more strong, active verbs and fewer weak, passive verbs. Yet, when it comes to verbs, strong doesn’t actually mean active and weak doesn’t actually mean passive, even though that’s what they are often labeled today. Starken und Schwachen Verben When I was an undergrad I…
Libraries and writers are inexorably entwined. Most writers grew up using libraries and have a great appreciation for the way they provide access to books. And writers directly benefit from libraries as they provide an important way for authors to be discovered by readers. Which means that in this world where everything is terrifyingly uncertain,…
I started thinking about my childhood recently, in a more focused and intentional way than I have previously. I wondered if my memories have impacted me, especially as a writer, or if they’re just a collection of miscellaneous impressions? Have they shaped what I’ve become and what I’ve produced? After an extensive study of about…
Are you new to writing fiction? Just starting to query agents and/or only now wrapping up your first novel? It’s never too early to start building your network. In fact, you can do a little something every day to get it going. And help it grow. Ten suggestions: Volunteer for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers or…