Saying, “NO!” to an Editor

NO

Hurrah! You have a revision letter from an editor and you are going to make every single, solitary, Continue Reading

Uncertainty: The Normal Writing Process

Polaroid

When I teach writing, I realize that I make everything sound like it's a straightforward process. Continue Reading

42: Harrison Ford’s Example of Preparing for an Audition

From the movie, "42."

I am interested in writing a nonficiton book and talked to an editor about the idea this week. She Continue Reading

Imperfect Dialogue: Making Characters Sound Real

soccer

I’ve been reading manuscripts lately and one thing keeps jumping out at me: dialogue that is too Continue Reading

It’s an Info Dump, But It Works

For the Win by Cory Doctorow

When writing a novel, one common admonishment is to keep in mind the goal of entertaining the Continue Reading

Narrative Arcs and Progressions

ostrich

A narrative arc is a necessary part of fiction and is often a key component of nonfiction, Continue Reading

Picture Books: Trust the Writing Process

journal

A friend and I are working on an idea for a picture book based on a true life event. The challenges Continue Reading

How Powerful are Your Words?

thehelp

Yesterday, I went to a local elementary school to tutor, something I've recently started. My second Continue Reading

Are You at THAT Stage of Revision? Keep Writing!

galaxy

Katherine Paterson wrote of her struggles in writing in her book, Gates of Excellence. She writes of Continue Reading

5 More Ways to Add Humor

mib

I am deep in a revision where the request is for more humor, funnier situations--specifically, more Continue Reading