“How do I know if my manuscript is ready for submission?”
You might never know fully. But careful review of your manuscript can get it closer to being publishing-ready.
Reviewing your...
I feel sleazy admitting it, but the Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard defamation trial has been on in the background at our house for the past few weeks.
I’ll blame it on my husband. He...
Every spring my mom crosses her fingers and prays a thousand little prayers that the poppies will bloom at the base of the Organ Mountains, in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
It’s the...
Flashbacks are essential in memoirs and fiction.
They are also indispensible in writing narrative nonfiction.
Here's a basic definition of a flashback:
"A flashback interrupts the chronological order...
“Is traditional publishing for me?”
It’s a question all writers ask at some point in their journey. And the answer depends on each individual. We interviewed Jamie Weiner, author...
Word choice matters.
Mark Twain allegedly said that the difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.
I often struggle to lay...
“Is my idea any good?” “Is this idea good enough for a book?”
At the heart of the creative journey is a good idea. And we all want to know if our idea is good enough for a...
Have you ever read a story in which the writer slows you down with two many details?
This is easy to do when we write stories.
One of the most elemental pieces of writing advice is this: Be specific....
“Do I need a platform to publish?”
That question is vague enough to be answered in two ways.
To make your writing public (our definition of publishing), you need some sort of...
“Life isn’t a support-system for art. It’s the other way around” (King, 101).
Stephen King’s On Writing chronicles King’s life from adolescence to his late...
No. You don't.
Many discussions regarding productive writing center around carving out large blocks of time:
* 90-minute blocks (I've espoused this!);
* Half-day writing chunks;
* Writing days; and
*...
“Should I find a writing coach? Do I need a coach?”
It depends. Are you stuck on your thesis? Do you struggle with structuring your book? Do your thoughts lack clarity or depth?
If...
