It’s almost here! My guide to writing a novel is officially launching on Monday. It’s over a year in the making (or almost 7 years if you count the blog as a whole), and I’ve had a ton of fun throughout the process. Going into the self-publishing process I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy […]
How to Write a Novel
Dialogue only has to be true to the world of your novel
One of the more interesting parts of writing a novel is how much you come to realize how very different dialogue is than actual human speech. I’ve tackled this on the blog before, and it was driven home for me when I was on a panel this past Friday at the Backspace Writers Conference. There […]
Why I’m Paying Someone to Edit My Guide to Writing a Novel
A few months ago I announced that I’m going to be self-publishing a guide to writing a novel, and I’m pleased to report that I have finished and edited my first draft! It has 42 chapters plus an epilogue, it covers both writing and revising, and it has more references to space monkeys than you […]
Writing as Catharsis
A writer wrote to me recently with a really great question. She wants to write a story that draws from a difficult chapter in her life, but wonders if the possible closure is worth the tough memories and negative emotions it will stir up. In her own words: I have an idea for a story […]
Give Critiques Time
Becky Levine offers some tried-and-true advice on critiques: give them time. She writes: Here’s the rule: Don’t always assume your initial reaction to a critique comment is going to be your final reaction. Or even just your second and third. So, so often, feedback from one of your critique partners makes you shake your head […]
How to keep writing when the s*** hits the fan
I wrote the latter part of Jacob Wonderbar for President of the Universe and nearly all of Jacob Wonderbar and the Interstellar Time Warp while going through one of the hardest stretches of my life, and I felt very acutely how writing during hard times can be both a great blessing as well as a […]
