Writing Blog
Making 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…
Read MoreDoes absence make the heart grow fonder … for your own writing?
Usually when I finish work on a novel, I set it aside and work on something else. Since I also write short stories, I find this a nice way to break from my longer projects. Then, when I’ve had a little time to distance myself from my work, I return to my project and start…
Read MoreIt’s time to sign up for the 2015 Matera Women’s Fiction Festival
Yes, it’s that time of year again. Time to think about signing up for the Matera Women’s Fiction Festival (24-27 September 2015). Early bird rates are in effect until 30 June. Take a look at the registration page here. This festival, held in the beautiful southern Italian “cave town” of Matera (see my earlier posts…
Read MoreLondon’s calling … all lovers of short stories
There are many reasons to visit the cosmopolitan city of London. But for lovers of short stories, 18-21 June 2015 is an ideal time to make it there, since these are the dates for the London Short Story Festival. There will be lots of the big names in short stories attending, speaking about their craft…
Read MoreCore Attraction: Can an anti-nuclear activist and a nuclear power exec find true love?
I’ve never been an appreciative romance novel reader. Probably one of my problems with the genre is that the hurdles in place for the romantic couple always seem so flimsy, and I lose patience with the supposedly insurmountable obstacles dragged out painfully throughout an entire novel, with few other plot points of interest to grab my…
Read MoreBest websites for writers
Writer’s Digest came out with their annual list of the best web sites for writers. Many of my favorites made the list. Others I didn’t know of, but will have to explore. Here are some of the sites I enjoy that made this year’s list, and hope other writers will find useful: Nathan Bransford :…
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