Book Writing World members recently discussed Booker Prize-winner The Line of Beauty, by Alan Hollinghurst. While most everyone agreed that Hollinghurst writes brilliant descriptions, there was considerable disagreement about whether anything happens, or if the book even has a plot. Most of the group of seven stopped reading halfway through or earlier because they lost interest […]
Plot or Plod?: by James Black Read More »
Recently I was reading an article in the Atlantic Monthly about new apps that are helping people make life changes (such as losing weight) and how their power comes from BF Skinner’s behavior modification models. Long story short, or the way I like to paraphrase it, which may or may not be accurate, is that
Feedback Loupe: by By Angie Powers Read More »
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 »
There are two kinds of people in the world: the people who thought R.E.M.’s third album was titled “Fables of the Reconstruction” and the people who thought it was “Reconstruction of the Fables.” Here’s the thing: they both right, and they’re both wrong. The album had two different titles that cancelled out each other, and
Deconstruction: 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 »
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