Most books are not Important Books, no matter how excellent they are – but if a book makes you think, isn’t that what’s important?
Writing Articles
The Elements of Genre
A book’s genre is a clue about the balance between the main drivers of story – plot, character, or setting.
Important Books
Most books are not Important Books, no matter how excellent they are – but if a book makes you think, isn’t that what’s important?
Main Characters – An Airport Perspective
Perspective is the difference between being an extra and being the star of the show, and the difference between a layover and a destination.
Main Characters – An Airport Perspective
Mar 9, 2024
Perspective is the difference between being an extra and being the star of the show, and the difference between a layover and a destination.
New Year Goals and Guesses
Jan 6, 2024
This year, I’m staying focused on the feeling I want instead of making up a goal based on a guess about what will lead to satisfaction.
The Story Begins at Midnight
Aug 9, 2022 | Writing
Beginnings and endings are important inflection points in stories and in life, but the significance depends on context and perspective.
Writer or Organized Squirrel?
Jul 10, 2022 | Writing
False starts are part of my creative process, and they sometimes generate material I wish I could use. The trick is keeping track of where I saved those unused possibilities.
The Dreaded Blank Page
Jun 10, 2022 | Communications, Writing
Not knowing how to begin is no excuse for writerly procrastination. Here are two of my favorite ways to get myself unstuck.
Writing, Weeding, and Artificial Intelligence
May 8, 2022 | Writing
Writing takes effort, but that’s a big part of the satisfaction. Even if we can automate all the hard work, should we?
Character-Driven Fiction: Perspective & Empathy
Apr 9, 2022 | Word Matters, Writing
Character-driven fiction can change the way we see the world by helping us practice looking from a different perspective. It’s possible in any genre.
The Technical Edit: Five Tips for Finding & Fixing Tiny Flaws
Mar 5, 2022 | Editing English, Writing
In the final installment of this mini-series on self-editing for authors, learn how to catch the little mistakes in your writing.
The Style Edit (continued): Word Search
Feb 5, 2022 | Editing English, Writing
Part 4 of the self-editing for authors mini-series continues with some ways writers can use the search function to improve style.
The Style Edit: The Sound of Style
Jan 8, 2022 | Editing English, Writing
Part 4 of self-editing for authors touches on how listening to your work can help you refine your writing style.
The Structural Edit: Following the Thread
Dec 4, 2021 | Editing English, Writing
Part 3 in the series on how to self-edit is about refining a work’s structure to make sure the story holds together.