Writing Blog
My story ‘Holiday Bliss’ is now online
I announced a while back that my short story, Holiday Bliss, was selected for the upcoming edition of the WriteFrance anthology. The publication will be released later this month, but prior to its launch, the WriteFrance site has made the pdf file of the publication temporarily available online. If you’re interested in reading Holiday Bliss,…
Read More30 harshest author-on-author insults
As every author knows, learning to get critiqued and getting used to reading bad reviews is all part of the job description. Developing a thick skin (and a good sense of humor) is probably one of the best things a writer can do for himself or herself. I do believe writers can benefit from constructive…
Read MoreDon’t eavesdrop! Unless you’re a writer
Eavesdropping is rude, or at least that’s what your mom always told you. And it’s good advice… except when it isn’t. For a writer, overheard snatches of conversation can provide a wealth of material. They can spark a story idea, just when you need inspiration. They can provide insight into the thought patterns of people…
Read MoreThe beauty of well-crafted sentences
Thanks to Claire, over at the fantastic Word by Word site for pointing out this New York Times article I had missed, “My Life’s Sentences” by the American author Jhumpa Lahiri. I haven’t yet read Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel, The Namesake, which Claire reviews over on Word by Word , but I have read Ms Lahiri’s…
Read MoreWhat’s wrong with being an aspiring author?
Recently I’ve seen some blogs criticizing people who choose to call themselves aspiring authors. The argument goes that since you’re writing, you’re already a writer and it somehow brings shame to the profession to describe yourself as anything but an ‘unmodified’ author. Luckily, there’s always room for debate on every issue. Personally, I find no…
Read MoreTen rules for writing fiction… from authors who know
This fantastic Guardian article came out two years ago and I read it then and loved it. Recently, I took another look at it and wanted to link it from my blog. After all, what aspiring writer can resist writing advice from the likes of Margaret Atwood (and her brilliant words of wisdom for writing…
Read MoreYou can’t judge a book by its cover … or can you?
Back when I lived in Milan, I had a friend who designed book covers for one of Italy’s largest publishers. I was just learning Italian back then and I remember asking her if there was an equivalent expression for “You can’t judge a book by its cover”, and being surprised to learn there wasn’t. I…
Read MoreAdvice from a debut author
In Rome, where I live, I’m lucky enough to belong to an amazing writing group. We meet every two weeks to read our work and receive critiques. At a recent meeting, we were fortunate to have as our guest Jessica Maria Tuccelli, debut author of Glow, a family saga set between Washington, D.C. and the…
Read MoreI received the Liebster Blog Award
I’ve won the Liebster Award, gifted to me by Melinda Dozier , talented romance writer and amazing critique partner. Thanks, Melinda! The Liebster Blog Award is given to upcoming bloggers who have less than 200 followers and Liebster is a German word which means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing…
Read More“Scheduling” daydreaming time…
Last week I posted about the fantastic Conversation with Joyce Carol Oates I attended. The prolific writer was in Rome and shared her views on writing, literature and the creative process. One of the things that struck me was how often she mentioned her need to be quiet and think – to daydream – as…
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