I went book shopping yesterday. I don't know why I picked up anything. I already had 130 books on my TBR list, three of which were recent arrivals via my boyfriend that I wanted to check out. And I already had six or seven that I have been sitting around various places in the house, [...]
The Outcome Can Terrorize You If there's a thousand ways to do something, there's a thousand ways to do it right. And a thousand ways to muck it up. And the truth is -- you'll never find the process that works for you, without stumbling through a few of those. In On Writing Well, by William [...]
There's a bunch of apps out there to help you be a better writer. You may want to try a few to see what works for you. May I recommend Oblique Strategies? It's available for both Android (here) and Apple (here) This sleek, straightforward app is designed to give you simple food for thought and [...]
In my years as a developmental editor, ghostwriter, and book reviewer, I've come across a few tricks to breaking down a good story, and a few tips for assembling one. In the discussion about different types of writers -- "planners" vs. "pantsers" -- I tend to come down closer on the side of "planner." I [...]
Ad copy and poetry are about emotion. What's the result? The old tricks work for both.
Writing emotions is complicated. Do all your characters' emotions make sense? Tips for writing fiction and nonfiction.
Emotion breaks across the page in poetry. I examine how Charles Bukowski hid vulnerability in his strength.
Readers think they're smart. Be prepared to go Gonzo rather than trying to trick them.
Use chance and luck to explore subtle nuances of a character's choices and fufill their destiny.
The universe is in constant motion. This is my understanding of its oh-so-important laws of physics. Movement is as natural and as important to the world condition as anything. Whether writing fiction or nonfiction, it's important to address your characters movements through space. How can you describe the movements of people in their mannerisms and [...]