The Craft of Writing, The Writer's Life
Who knows how many writers fail because the light that shines through them is refracted in a thousand directions and not concentrated in a single beam? Pick projects and complete them! It is not really possible to work on a thousand things at once. This is one of my...
The Craft of Writing, The Writer's Life
If you continually stop and start writing projects without finishing them, what do you think are the sources of your inclination to stop? Become your own expert on stoppage, so you can be your greatest cheerleader for starting again. Most of us, at some point, have...
Revising and Editing, The Craft of Writing, The Writer's Life
You must appraise your work. Appraising isn’t cold-hearted criticism. It is the effort you make to turn your raw ideas into elaborated beauty. Appraising is your duty. Appraising our work is an uncomfortable phase of the creation cycle, but it is a vital one in order...
Revising and Editing, The Craft of Writing, The Writer's Life
When a thing is not done, continuing to work on it is the strength. When it is done, the strength lies in stopping. Work, appraise, complete; work, appraise, complete: this is the creative life. The creative life and the writing process are cycles. We have ideas, we...
Revising and Editing, The Craft of Writing
Point of view is one of the most difficult concepts for authors to master. In this post, fellow editor Heather Whitaker provides some pointers for defining the POV in your book. Heather and I have edited some of the same books, sometimes by coincidence and...
The Craft of Writing, The Writer's Life
One of the best ways to help yourself write every day is to craft a starting ritual that you begin to use regularly and routinely. When your ritual becomes habitual, you will find yourself moving effortlessly from not writing to writing. Whether you write first thing...
The Craft of Writing, The Writer's Life
There are days when we need a good swift kick in the pants. We need someone to tell us to get our butt into the chair and WRITE. Usually, that “someone” has to be ourselves. Then there are days when we need to be–should be–kinder to...
The Craft of Writing, The Writer's Life
Learn how to go directly to your work. When your work bell tolls at the appointed hour, answer it. Stop waiting! Start writing! Years of frustration from trying to “fit” writing into my day have taught me that the writing must be first—not simply in priority, but in...
Authors and Books, The Business of Writing
Authors have many options for putting print and ebook versions of their books into readers’ hands. But have you considered creating an audiobook of your manuscript? According to the American Association of Publishers, audiobook downloads increased 38.1 percent in 2015...
