I’ve often wondered what keeps writers writing. As a reader, I’m grateful that people out there in the world persist in this rather unrewarding activity. I say unrewarding only in the sense of traditional rewards, e.g., money, fame. Most of what writers get instead is criticism or armchair hindsight. So why do writer’s write? I […]
Tips for Learning the Craft of Writing
In my last post I talked about the need for writers to learn the craft of writing fiction. Many writers in today’s world do not take the time to learn how to write fiction. Some feel if they’ve written academic papers or business reports, they can surely write a novel, right? Wrong! There is much […]
Writers Learning to Write
Some people believe if they can type (or scribble on a pad), they can write. What else is there to it? Others believe if they can mix some paint, buy a canvas and easel, they can paint. Sure, just put the pen to paper or the paint to canvas and you have created something magical. […]
How Much Are You Willing to Change to Publish Your Book?
Recently I heard one of my favorite writers, Ron Rash, speak at the Decatur Book Festival #writingtips Click To Tweet During the talk he shared an example of something that happened to him early in his career. A big publisher offered to pick up his book but asked him to rewrite the story from the […]
Head Hopping in Fiction
I just read a very good police procedural at the request of the author. He asked me to review his book. The book was quite well done except for the occasional head-hopping. The author wrote the book in the third person point of view from the standpoint of the lead policeman. That is the usual […]
Tips to Novel Writers Who Write Short Stories
Last January I agreed to participate on a short story blog. I along with several novel writers are writing a story a month around certain themes. The blog is Lightning Quick Reads. It’s been great fun, but also a challenge. As novel writers, we often find telling our stories in 1500 words or less difficult. […]
Tips for Vanquishing Writer’s Block
A writer’s biggest fear is writer’s block. Even if you’ve never experienced it, the fact that it’s out there in the universe keeps writers on edge. Will the day come when I can’t write? Will the day come when my mind draws a complete blank? The thought is terrifying. What are some ways to make […]
Tips for Finding Your Genre
Every writer hears from publishers and agents to write in a genre. If your book is too general, too broad, it is harder to market #marketing #writing Click To Tweet They tell us, “Book sellers like to know where to place your book on their shelves.” Okay that sounds fine, but what about sub-genres? And […]
Editing or Writing That is the Question #writingtips #amwriting
I’m in the middle of several writing projects. I’m finishing the final edits on the e-Murderer. My publisher has it, now but I suspect I’ll be getting the final galleys any day now. In addition, I’m working on editing the second book in the Jenna Scali series. Once I finish it, I’ll send it to […]
E.L. Doctorow Tips to Other Writers
The great writer E.L. Doctorow died recently. He was one of America’s great fiction writers. Recently I heard an interview with him that was recorded in 2009 after he published Homer and Langley. In that interview he shared some tips with writers that I thought worth repeating. “I don’t write with an outline.” #writingtips Click […]
