When we speak, just as when we dream, there is an underlying rhythm to our sentences and thoughts. Sometimes it’s in four-four time, sometimes it’s to iambic pentameter, and sometimes it’s to the beat of a distant police siren or the drum roll of a marching band practicing on a neighboring field. To stay awake […]
Underlying playlist: by Devi Laskar Read More »
Recently in the Book Writing World, Elizabeth posted 13 items for a writer to remember: Today I want to discuss #7. The stories that save your life. Sometimes, the story that saves you is an actual tale that you tell of harrowing adventure, near death experiences and the one small thing or one person who
The stories that save your life: by Devi Laskar Read More »
In this week’s writing classes we are playing with those moments in a story when something is revealed or withheld. These are two sides of the same coin. In April, I was reading Colum McCann’s story “Transatlantic” in The New Yorker (see links below) and came across a remarkable moment. Well, really two moments. Two veterans
Withholding and Revealing: What You Tell and When You Tell It by Elizabeth Stark Read More »
It’s standard writing wisdom to know to whom you are writing. Knowing your intended audience lets you clarify genre, for example. Knowing your audience helps with voice. Knowing your audience preps you for dealing with those folks who aren’t part of your audience, read your work and feel like commenting anyway. But at a deeper
Why You Have to Keep Your Audience In Mind: By Angie Powers Read More »
There are writers who talk about writing what you know and there are other writers who talk about writing what you don’t know about what you know and there even more writers who talk about survival and forgiveness and revenge and writing about what you know about those subjects as you personally relate to them.
What to forget: by Devi Laskar Read More »
Today I finished the spell check on the latest revision of my novel and sent it off to my agent. Now I kind of want just to keep typing that sentence over and over again. I have this frozen elation—or is that terror? This morning over breakfast, I was reading book reviews in The Economist.
Hitting Send: Three Reasons to Write: by Elizabeth Stark Read More »
I’ve been struggling with writers’ block lately and wondering aloud if I was ever going to get back into the practice of writing consistently – and even writing at all. I was gently reminded yesterday that writing is a PRACTICE. It’s something you have to do every day to get better, and to fall into
Words to live by: by Devi Laskar Read More »
13 Rules for Becoming a Published Writer 1. Read books like the kind you hope to write. Read, read, read. 2. Buy books if you hope one day to sell them. 3. As Al Capone said of voting: Write early and often. 4. Expect readers like you—as smart, as likely to buy something self-published or
13 Rules for Becoming a Published Writer: by Elizabeth Stark Read More »
I’ve been attempting to finish my novel for years. I had ordered it so that it alternated chapters between the present and its dark past, and then another way so that it was all in the present with flashbacks of the childhood. Then I started to rewrite the whole thing, with my protagonist as a
Forks in the road & other cutlery: by Devi Laskar Read More »
Some folks are really capable. REALLY capable. Me, I’m more on the disorganized end of things. I get so many ideas they tend to spread all over the place. I could do this, or this, or this! It’s super fun to think about, but sometimes, all the possibilities make sitting down to write even harder.
Organizing Like a Preschool to Write Like a Master: by Angie Powers Read More »
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