Don’t Mistake Procrastination for Suspense
Make your novel engaging from page one. Start in the right place. If the first chapter can be cut without making the story unclear, cut it.
Fairyland: Brownies, Boggarts, and Banshees
To prepare for her next novel, the author learns a bit about the personnel of fairyland including brownies, boggarts, and banshees.
How to Write an Autobiographical Novel
“I told my students all the time: writing fiction is an exercise in giving a shit—an exercise in finding out what you really care about.”
What’s the Purpose of a Book Review?
The book review star rating system is meaningless. The sole purpose of a book review is to inform the potential buyer about the contents of books. A good review allows that buyer to know if the book being reviewed is … Continued
Three Elements of Great Writing: Bridge of Clay
This is round two of looking at Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak. In the last post, I looked at why it isn’t really a YA novel although it was marketed as one in the US. This time, I want … Continued
Writing Lessons from Ron Carlson
Writing Lessons from Ron Carlson I’ve never read anything by Ron Carlson that I didn’t enjoy. I began with his short stories and later read two novels, “Return to Oakpine” and “The Signal.” Later I read “Ron Carlson Writes a … Continued
Horror: The Haunting of Hill House, Lovecraft and More
Multiple Horrors We didn’t begin with Shirley Jackson or the Haunting of Hill House this week. My sons and I started our email conversation about an article in the LA Review of Books on how authors are reimagining H. P. … Continued
Stoking the Creative Fire: Fabric, Wool, Nature
Creative Fire Blocks As I discussed in my last post, I don’t think that there is any special condition we can label writer’s block; however, this year I have come to believe in ‘life block.’ Not only have I had … Continued
Writer’s Block, Life Block, and the Desire for Connection
Writer’s Block or Life Block? I don’t believe in writer’s block because, generally speaking, there is no muse hanging out. In fact, I’m not entirely sure what writer’s block is supposed to be. I get a few ideas a day … Continued
How I Became a Writer
A Slow Learner All things come to me slowly. I wish it weren’t so. I love stories of epiphany, of lightning bolt inspiration. But my consciousness river is turbulent with questions of creativity, of ethics, of purpose. What is heavy … Continued