Friday, July 11, 2014

Overwriting, Purple Prose, Sentence Fragments, and Other Things You May Not Know You're Doing--Until Your Writing Gets Rejected

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I've been compiling a list I wish I had years ago, when I started writing books.  These are red flags to editors and publishers--sig...
Friday, July 4, 2014

When Is It Time to Send Out Your Manuscript? How to Be Smart about Next Steps

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A blog reader from New York recently emailed me:  "I've finished my novel (again) and I'm thinking about what to do next.  ...
Friday, June 27, 2014

Working with Unexpected Character Questions: Finding Your Character's (or Narrator's) Inner Story

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My summer writing goal is to bring one of my favorite characters to vividness on the pages of my novel-in-progress.  I've gotten g...
Friday, June 20, 2014

Writing Strong Transitions: Scene to Scene, Chapter to Chapter, How to Keep Your Reader Turning the Page

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I learned about the importance of transitions during my MFA study.  One of my thesis advisers, a talented novelist, read my novel-in-pr...
Friday, June 13, 2014

Pros and Cons of Feedback on Your Writing: Finding Out What You REALLY Need (and Getting It)

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I teach all levels of writers, and I especially love working with brand-new writers.  Someone who has just gotten an idea for a novel.  ...
Friday, June 6, 2014

Raise the Emotional Stakes: Strengthening Alchemy between Setting, Character, and Conflict

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Morning: writing at my sunny desk.  Task:  revise a stubborn scene.  Advice from recent feedback:  bring more emotion into it. Sunshin...
Friday, May 30, 2014

Emotional Gateways--How They Help You Write and Revise Your Book

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On June 2, next Monday, I begin teaching my summer online classes.   In both the beginning and intermediate level classes, we examine...
Friday, May 23, 2014

Cheryl Strayed on Jealousy, How to Keep Writing, Getting Famous, and Other Great Stuff--Interviewed by Elissa Bassist

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 I loved this flippant, educational article by a favorite writer, Cheryl Strayed.  She's reached fame and fortune lately, since her ...
Friday, May 16, 2014

Resources for Writing a Potent "Inner Story" in Your Book

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{This post also appeared earlier this week as a guest blog on Grub Street Daily .} Vivian Gornick talks about “the situation and the s...
Friday, May 9, 2014

How to Keep Your Writing in Your Over-the-Top Busy Life: Helpful Techniques from the Experts

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A particular exchange exists between the writer and her writing.  One feeds the other.  If you write, you write more.  If you stop writi...