-
Elizabeth Dulemba on Editing (a.k.a. Puzzle Building)
Guest post By Elizabeth O. Dulemba When my novel A BIRD ON WATER STREET sold to Little Pickle Press, I hadn’t looked at it for a while. In fact, it was in a drawer when the acquiring editor said (in response to a younger book I was pitching), “You know what we’re really looking for…
-
Are You at THAT Stage of Revision? Keep Writing!
Katherine Paterson wrote of her struggles in writing in her book, Gates of Excellence. She writes of coming into the house one day and dramatically announcing that she was never going to finish her book. Her husband calmly replied, “Oh, so you’re at THAT stage.” What a refreshing concept–there is actually a stage of writing…
-
5 More Ways to Add Humor
I am deep in a revision where the request is for more humor, funnier situations–specifically, more laugh-out-loud humor. I am working on this problem in multiple ways. Looking for Bright Spots or Mentor Texts. I am reading other funny books, watching Men in Black, watching cartoons, trying to brush up on anything that is funny.…
-
Measuring Progress
How do you measure the progress of a writing project? Since people are working on the Summer Revision Smackdown, here’s a timely poll. You can vote for up to two answers. Please leave a more extensive answer in the comments. [poll id=”3″]
-
current stories
Stories You Might Find Interesting Janni talks about her revision process. I’m featured on the Cuppa Jolie Blog in conjunction with the Summer Revision Smackdown. Have you heard this? Dave Eggers has taken Maurice Sendak’s classic, Where the Wild Things Are and has written a 300+ page novel! It went from 324 words to 324…
-
Audience
Do you pay attention to your audience when you write, or do you write for yourself, an audience of one? PW’s Shelf Talker Josie Leavitt has an interesting posting on when toddlers pick out their own books. Even as toddlers, boys and girls choose books differently. Both are passionate about the books they love and…