Vivian Gornick talks about “the situation and the story”—the two elements of good prose. What happens and why it happens. Because of her s...

Here are some questions to think about, as you work on your writing and your book this week: What kind of reader do you see in your mind...

My first visit to the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, I saw Puccini’s Turandot. There wasn’t a moment during Puccini’s music or story ...

Is this how you are feeling about your writing sometimes? Like you're in a forest of bits and pieces where nothing makes sense enough t...

Book writers (and all writers!) need to be able to hear both the random, illogical side of their creative selves, as well as the structuring...

About a year ago, I joined a free Yahoo group called CRWROPPS--B (Creative Writers Opportunities List). Agents often encourage book writers...

John Gardner, author of The Art of Fiction, wrote, "We read five words on the first page of a really good novel and we begin to forget ...

A writing colleague just emailed me this wonderful site for information and advice on agents. Check it out for lively discussions, then pos...

Writing a book is a lot like taking a long trip down an unknown river. It's beautiful, exciting, and slightly dangerous--but entirely wo...

I once lived in Paris--the photo at right is the Eiffel Tower at night, all lit up for summer tourists. I learned the streets and shops and ...