Writing Blog
Are you a flexible writer or a focused writer?
I read an interesting post over at Books and Such by literary agent Rachel Kent. It was entitled: Two Types of Writers, and it stressed the point that agents enjoy working with both types of authors. The Flexible writers might be someone an agent approaches with an idea for a book or collaboration, since he/she…
Read MoreThe importance of backstory in your fiction
Over at the excellent Writers in the Storm blog, author Kathryn Craft has an excellent post entitled Backstory matters. Backstory is one of those controversial issues today. While you certainly don’t want to dump all of a character’s backstory into the opening chapter (since it tends to slow down the pace), you do need to…
Read MoreEven more favorite summer reading so far … The Seven Sisters
Wow, I picked this up in the book store after falling in love with the cover (shallow, I know) and the sound of the story. I’m glad I did. I’d never heard of Irish author Lucinda Riley before reading this novel. I always have a soft spot for two separate yet linked narratives, one in…
Read MoreHow do you keep track of your story ideas?
Over at the excellent Nathan Bransford blog, there was a great question for authors: How do you keep track of your ideas? This isn’t as easy as it might seem. Writers are – by their very nature- daydreamers, and they may have lots of ideas flitting around in their heads at any one time. Any…
Read MoreFavorite summer reading so far … Big Little Lies
The summer is still young – or at least that’s how I choose to look at it since my vacation (read: peak reading time) comes later in the summer – but my favorite read so far is Big Little Lies by Australian author Liane Moriarty. I discovered Moriarty this year with The Husband’s Secret and…
Read MoreMaking room for your writing
This helpful article was in the last issue of Writer’s Digest. Its author is the women’s fiction novelist Amy Sue Nathan, who also hosts the popular Women’s Fiction Writers blog. Nathan offers some helpful insight into how to carving out time and space for your writing, even in the midst of the overwhelming demands of…
Read MoreHave blogs gone the way of the milkman?
Over at the excellent Nathan Bransford blog, Nathan poses an intriguing question about why personal blogs have been disappearing: I miss the blogosphere Not being cool and trendy, I admit that I didn’t know that I’ve apparently slid into hopeless frumpiness. I love writing my blog and reading the blogs of others. Yes, I learn…
Read MoreWhat are your writing projects this summer?
I don’t know about you, but summer can often be one of my slower writing periods. Roman summers are hot, the days are long and there are lots of distractions to keep me from buckling down behind my computer. I find it an ideal time to day dream, and plot out story lines and characters…
Read MoreLast chance to submit for the Writers Abroad anthology
I’ve already posted about the call for submissions for expat writers or former expat writers. The Writers Abroad anthology, Kaleidoscope, is accepting works of short fiction, flash fiction and poetry. But the deadline is looming for submissions. You have until Monday, 15 June to submit your work. So writers, get polishing work you’ve already done, or…
Read MoreCongratulations to Ali Smith – Bailey’s Prize 2015 winner
Congratulations to Ali Smith! Her novel How to Be Both was named as this year’s winner of the Bailey’s Prize. I’m always pleased to celebrate the Bailey’s Women’s Prize for Fiction (formerly the Orange Prize). I’ve already posted the 2015 short list on my site, and I don’t envy the judges for what must have been a…
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