Blog
The Art of Withholding Information from the Reader
I was at a writing group recently when a fellow writer felt a few scenes in her novel were dragging. She was concerned readers would be bored. (The death knell for a novel!) The solution, she decided, was to create a bit of intrigue and drama. To do that, she is...
read moreHow to Read Like a Writer
In a class I was teaching recently, a student asked me an unexpected question: How do I read more effectively? He told me he loved reading and he certainly had opinions about the books he read, but he didn't know how to translate those opinions into a method to...
read moreResearch Your Novel and Stay Sane
At some point when you're writing your novel, you'll realize you need to look outside of yourself and your characters for answers. This is true for all genres—historical, sci-fi, contemporary. Even memoir writers don't completely escape the long arm of research. My...
read moreUnconventional Ways to Research Your Novel
Does the thought of doing research for your novel or memoir fill you with dread? Do you put it off until you have gaping holes in your story or abandon your idea altogether? Never fear! Research for your novel can be fun. First, think about what kind of information...
read moreGood Reads for Valentine’s Day…and Beyond
Books make great gifts! These are my book recommendations for Valentine’s Day, or any day.
read moreFive Books on Writing and Creativity You’ll Want to Read
In this list, I’m suggesting some books that may have slipped under your radar. Maybe they are a bit older or were published to less fanfare, but they still offer valuable guidance on how to navigate this writing life.
read moreHow to Find the Best Writing Group for You
There is a writing group to fit every need. There are heavy-duty critique groups that provide written feedback MFA-style. (I was a member of one that had by-laws and a mission statement. It was intense.) There are casual online groups that allow you to email pages...
read moreYour 2018 Writing Resolutions
Whether you love New Year's resolutions or love to hate them, the start of a fresh calendar is a good time to take stock in the past year and think about where you want to go in the next. I've become a convert to the benefits of writing resolutions. Setting writing...
read more31 Days of Writing Inspiration
I love this time of year. The twinkle lights. The egg nog. The holiday movies I wrap myself in like a cozy blanket. But by the end, I'm drained. I'm usually running on empty and limping across the start line that is the new year. It takes me a while to recover and...
read moreEighth Annual Great Books to Give…and Get
Books make great gifts! If you've got a long list of people to buy for this holiday season and no idea what to get them, here are a few suggestions from books I enjoyed this year. 12 Recommended Books of the Year For the person who thinks their journals are...
read moreI’m Reading
