Writers' Blog Tour – How Does My Writing Process Work? Question #4
I explained in an earlier post what the Writers’ Blog Tour is about. Basically, writers answer the same four questions: Why do I write what I do? What am I working on? How does my work differ from other work in its genre? How does my writing process work? You can click on the links to see…
Read MoreHow Does My Work Differ From Other Work In Its Genre? Question #3 on the Writers' Blog Tour
I explained in an earlier post what the Writers’ Blog Tour is about. Basically, writers answer the same four questions: Why do I write what I do? What am I working on? How does my work differ from other work in its genre? How does my writing process work? I answered the first and second questions last, and so, for today,…
Read MoreWhat Am I Working On? Question #2 on the Writers' Blog Tour
I explained in an earlier post what the Writers’ Blog Tour is about. Basically, writers answer the same four questions: What do I write what I do? What am I working on? How does my work differ from other work in its genre? How does my writing process work? For today, I’ll tackle the second…
Read MoreWriters' Blog Tour – Why do I Write What I do? Question #1
Have you heard of the Writers’ Blog Tour? (Goggle it, and you’ll see all the various writers on the Tour.) Each writer tagged to join the Tour posts answers to the same four questions on their blog. They might post answers all at once, or one at a time, whatever suits. They also provide links to Authors on the…
Read MoreTen Fictional Characters I'd Want With Me On a Desert Island
I saw this meme going around Booklikes.com and thought it might be fun to give it a go. I think I’m going to let myself edit this one as my preferences change over time. Might be an interesting psychological study. So, 10 Fictional characters I’d want with me on a desert island (in no particular…
Read MoreYou Are Not Alone
I just got back from the 13th Annual International Conference of the Short Story in English, which was held in Vienna. It was lovely. I made some new friends and met some of my literary idols, like Robert Olen Butler and Sandra Cisneros, both of whom I’ve fallen a little in love with. I discovered…
Read MoreRunning Hot
Megan Abbott is the Edgar-winning author of the novels QUEENPIN, THE SONG IS YOU, DIE A LITTLE, BURY ME DEEP, THE END OF EVERYTHING and DARE ME. This is her latest book, and it’s sure to cause the same amount of buzz as her previous work. Abbott likes dark (as do I). She is, perhaps,…
Read MoreMonsters From The Inside Out
I just read a terrific book — thanks to Sandra Katsuri, my publisher at Chizine Press, who recommended it to me — and I wanted to pass the word along. The book is NORTH AMERICAN LAKE MONSTERS by Nathan Ballingrud. This is a superb collection of short stories. Nathan Ballingrud won the inaugural Shirley Jackson Award…
Read MoreLet's Talk About Writing Dialogue
…Or, Let’s Talk About Writing About Talking. Snort. You know what I mean. Writing good dialogue isn’t easy, and bad dialogue is one of the things that immediately reveals the author as an amateur, not to be trusted by the reader. One of the things that can help you write better dialogue is knowing when…
Read MoreWhy I Think The Workshop Works!
Once a month I teach a writing workshop — SHARPENING THE QUILL — here in Princeton. We are a group of about twenty. Some have been coming for years, others for just a few months. Some are published, some are emerging, some are real beginners. All are welcome. I love my students. One of the…
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