Giving a draft of a work in progress is a major milestone–and an awful lot like inviting someone to snoop around the house. It’s also magic.

A “bestseller” isn’t the only successful book. There’s another definition of success, and it can’t be captured in numbers.
Giving a draft of a work in progress is a major milestone–and an awful lot like inviting someone to snoop around the house. It’s also magic.
A book’s genre is a clue about the balance between the main drivers of story – plot, character, or setting.
Aug 10, 2024
Giving a draft of a work in progress is a major milestone–and an awful lot like inviting someone to snoop around the house. It’s also magic.
May 4, 2024
A book’s genre is a clue about the balance between the main drivers of story – plot, character, or setting.
Apr 6, 2024
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?
Dec 10, 2022 | Writing
Names are labels that help us keep track. In fiction, keeping identities clear when names can shift based on relationships is a challenge.
Nov 6, 2022 | Read It Somewhere, Writing
Keeping track of a large cast of characters in fiction can be a challenge, but there’s a really good reason why sometimes it’s worth the work.
Aug 9, 2022 | Writing
Beginnings and endings are important inflection points in stories and in life, but the significance depends on context and perspective.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.