1) Try to keep things a secret. This is not something we are great at in our family, though we are getting better. We always want to let someone know as soon as we’ve gotten—or even thought of—the perfect present. Leo and Charlie are making secrets gifts in class for us, and Leo keeps asking […]
3 Gift-Giving Habits to Apply to Your Writing: by Elizabeth Stark Read More »
In graduate school, I was fortunate to be a student of the late great Lucille Clifton. Not only was she an outstanding poet, but she was an exemplary teacher. And she used her wit and sense of humor to convey so many layers of meaning in her often short poems. She frequently spoke about the
Speaking Aloud: by Devi Laskar Read More »
Recently, in our wonderful Mentoring Class, Elizabeth Stark posed some interesting questions to us, about why we think we write and what our mission is. My wonderful colleagues at the Book Writing World generously shared their answers and allowing me to publish them. I don’t want to color their answers by their gender or geographic
Seeking Purpose & Siphoning Gas: by the Book Writing World Read More »
I’m not new to the computer, and I’m not new to moving files from one “place” on the computer to the other. I’ve been working on a computer and moving things for years, even decades. Yet accidents happen. I accidentally erased a lot of my work recently, as I moved it from one place to
Sometimes When You Lose, You Win: by Devi Laskar Read More »
There’s a lot of pressure on me to make money from my writing. Just doing art for the joy of doing it doesn’t mean scheduling time for it during the weekends. Art is something that’s acceptable to do only when all the real work is done. Well the “real” work is never done. So I
Building the Writer’s Platform: (Guest Blog) by Thais Derich Read More »
I am setting out to reread my manuscript of my latest book, and I looked back to a blog I wrote a few years ago when I was doing just that with a very early draft of what eventually became this book. The advice about editing your own work felt helpful for me and I
10 Ways to Be Your Own Best Editor: by Elizabeth Stark Read More »
I first posted this fabulous list of Henry Miller’s about a year ago and I still think his advice is just wonderful. It is the end of 2012 and while I loathe to add another “list” to everyone’s “to-read” pile, this one seems to be timeless and worth revisiting: In this age of multi-tasking and
Remembering to Love the one you’re with: by Devi Laskar Read More »
Let’s face it, being a shy writer doesn’t work that well these days what with the world of Twitter, Face Book, and blogs. I’m more exposed as a writer than any other job that I’ve had. Different versions of me (aging me) over the past six years are documented on my blog. My kids’ pictures are
Moving beyond embarrassment: (Guest Blog) by Thais Derich Read More »
Let’s talk about the things that help you write. A room of your own, or at least part of a study table where you can plunk down your stuff and get some work done. A comfortable chair, or at least some place to sit, and park your body while you daydream and use your mind.
Not a Crutch, but a Ladder: by Devi Laskar Read More »
In 2012 I completed a first draft of my novel Walnut. It’s a better draft than I would have finished in NaNoWriMo as I spent ten months doing it, not thirty days. I have been working on this novel for about nine years, so this accomplishment is something to celebrate. My success in this tiny
Finding My Way: (Guest Blog) by Amy Truncale Read More »
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