In Praise of Procrastination
December 5, 2019 · Margot Dougherty
The funny thing is, even during this busy (and productive!) avoidance stage, the writing process is often in motion, like an app working in the background of a smartphone.
Categories: For the Love of Writing
Tags: creative process
Fiction, Memoir, and the Machine of Story
September 3, 2019 · Merrill Feitell
If you’re finding that your narrative’s energy is flagging, try pinpointing your protagonist’s defining characteristic. Here’s how that can help your story.
Categories: Writing & Editing Process
Tags: character development, creative writing, revising your writing
Show, Don’t Tell: Writing 101 for Fiction and Memoir
July 19, 2019 · Nomi Isak
What “Show, Don’t Tell” really means: how to write fiction or memoir that keeps your reader engaged.
Categories: For the Love of Writing
Tags: creative writing, revising your writing
Tricks of the Editing Trade: Word, Track Changes, and the Master Document
May 16, 2019 · Kate Zentall
Deliver your document to your editor in Word, use Track Changes, and maintain one master document to save time and money.
Categories: Writing & Editing Process
Tags: copyeditors, proofreaders, revising your writing
Why Beta Reader Feedback Can Be Invaluable
April 15, 2019 · Monica Faulkner
Is your creative vision on your pages? Here’s how you can find out.
Categories: Writing & Editing Process
Tags: beta readers, constructive criticism, creative process, revising your writing, writing resources
9 Places to Write in LA That Aren’t Coffee Shops
March 4, 2019 · Lynette Padwa
I have three requirements for an off-site writing perch. These nine picks meet all three.
Categories: Writing & Editing Process
Tags: writing resources
Does a Book Idea Always Warrant a Book?
January 23, 2019 · Amy Friedman
A question that comes up in every writing class I teach and with nearly every client, is this: Is every story worth telling? I say the answer is yes — with an asterisk.
Categories: Writing & Editing Process
Tags: constructive criticism, creative process
Publishing Market Update: 2018
December 3, 2018 · Sharon Goldinger
Getting a contract with a traditional publishing house is possible, but it is going to take some work.
Categories: Selling Your Writing
Tags: getting published, literary agents, writing resources
How To Write Something True
November 1, 2018 · Lori Kozlowski
No one is above being questioned about the accuracy of their work, and those who write nonfiction may be especially scrutinized.
Categories: Writing & Editing Process
Tags: fact checking, nonfiction writing, professional writing, writing research
The Power of Place in Story
October 1, 2018 · Barbara DeSantis
If place wields such power, why do we sometimes relegate it to a secondary role when writing story?
Categories: Writing & Editing Process
Tags: creative writing, fiction writing, revising your writing