How to Overcome Writer’s Burnout
Last summer I’d just put the finishing touches on a short story when the idea for a new story was brewing. I was in the early planning stages, uncovering the characters and developing their stories. I had a solid plan of where the plot would take them. Then...Why “Show, Don’t Tell” Is All Wrong
If you’ve been writing for more than five minutes, you’ve heard this old saw: Show, don’t tell. There is value in this message—whether you’re writing a short story, novel or memoir. But I think the takeaway gets overpowered by the mantra....Writing Exploration: Seeking Color
Color affects our mood. It is used in healing and therapy. It has different symbolic meanings in different cultures. We gravitate toward certain colors and shy away from others. Everything around us has a color and we’re often assigning value to it based on the color.
Nail the Ending: Dos and Don’ts for a Great Conclusion to Your Novel, Part 2
How do you wrap up a 300-page novel or memoir? It can be a daunting task. In the first part of this series, we reviewed the six styles of conclusions. These apply whether you’re writing a novel, memoir or short story. No matter which option you choose, the...I’m Reading
