I see, I listen, I think. Therefore, I write.
Want to go viral? Take a cue from a former teacher of creative writing. He came out with a rant about his students and the craft of writing. The piece riled quite a few people. Mostly writers, for sure. Enough … Continued
The Zen of Writing? An oxymoron, I’d say. At least, that’s my first reaction. In my mind, the act—but more specially the art—of writing requires you to be active and engaged. Bent over a ream of paper on a desk, … Continued
It is Christmas season. If you’re a Christian (only about a third of the world population). What next for you as a writer? How much do you crave success? After all the grub, booze, and discarded gifts (or, at least, … Continued
You are a writer. Therefore, you’re a slave. To reviews, to courting a readership, to spending hours on tasks not related to writing. Writer and slave: You’re helpless against that bondage. Most writers now are resigned to the fact that … Continued
Everyone is doing book trailers these days. So, why not jump on the bandwagon? Well, for one, having someone do book trailers for you can cost money. Money you may not have on your limited book promotion budget. But you … Continued
Writers are researchers, too. In fact, writers have to be Jacquelines (or Jacks) of many trades. Wordsmiths, grammarians, artists of a certain sort, interviewers, investigators/researchers. Even counselors. Of these, I’m most comfortable being a researcher. I did research for graduate … Continued
Why write fiction? Writing is unrewarding. Not an item you would often find in a bucket list (things you hope to do in your life)—if we mean writing a novel, an essay, or a short story. But it probably makes … Continued
Can writing heal what ails you? Many studies show you can write to save your life. I started writing my thoughts and feelings in a little notebook when I was a kid. I think it was my way of coping … Continued
When you find yourself in a rut or you’re just bored. Haiku yourself out of it. Haikuing is fun and it only needs 17 syllables, give or take. I have haikued in the past, but I’ve nearly forgotten doing it … Continued
There is necessary tedium in writing. My third novel (Hello, Agnieszka!) is in the proofreading stage by another pair of eyes. That makes four scrutinizing pairs, so far. Writing is a solitary undertaking but the author is always too … Continued
If you live inside your head, people are likely to think you’re crazy. But doing so can actually be comforting. Productive, even. As I grew older, reality trounced my dreams one by one. I found myself retreating a little more … Continued
I sent my latest manuscript to a couple of beta readers. I’ve found them helpful in the past. I tend to experiment a little with the linear structure of novels. I’m never sure, though, if doing so would confuse readers. … Continued
Ah, how careless we can be with our words! I’m not referring to sloppy grammar or style that relies on clichés. I’m talking about careless word choice, particularly when words are chosen primarily to attract attention. Someone sent me an … Continued
Places in stories can advance plot and show something about a character. Food and eating can (see Delectable Dishes) do the same. In Hello, Greg invites Elise to his house presumably to see him in his “true element.” When … Continued
I tore open the cardboard packaging much too eagerly and my palms smarted from the vigorous peeling off of unyielding adhesive tapes. But it’s worth the rawness of a few minutes. I looked at this thing in my hand, dressed … Continued