“Good writing is rewriting” is a common adage that reflects the belief that writing, regardless of its level of completion, is always either good or bad. Furthermore, blocked and perfectionistic writers are often advised to write “badly” on purpose in order to lose their fears enough to let themselves write at all. The act of […]
Think of Shaky Writing not as “Bad” but “Incomplete” Read More »
It has been about a year since I published my e-book A Trail of Crumbs to Creative Freedom. Though I consider myself primarily a fiction writer, its content was important to me. It was a record of my transition from depression and block to recovering creatively, which led to finishing my newest fantasy novel, The
From Creative Block to Creative Freedom: “Trail of Crumbs” Unearthed Read More »
“If you say in the first chapter that there is a rifle hanging on the wall, in the second or third chapter it absolutely must go off.” – Anton Chekhov This rule of story writing, often quoted, is considered elementary. When I learned it in college, it was a revelation. I had always
It Is Time to Start Breaking the Chekhov Rule of Story Writing Read More »
I sometimes lapse into unwilling envy, and even going into a bookstore is hard for me. I see all the books exploding from the shelves and wonder, is there any room left? And I think of my book at home, on my computer. I feel even less comforted when I consider
Writing: Communication or Competition? Read More »
I recently learned a startling piece of information: Apparently, when literary agents like your work, they call you. As a confirmed shy person, I thought, “You mean I will have to talk to her?” It was, I admit, a strange thought to have. What was I expecting, that we would
Writers No Longer Allowed to be Shy Read More »
As a kid I longed to draw things the way they really looked. I was especially fascinated with eyes. But whenever I tried to draw them, penciling in realistic highlights, they never had the natural warmth I wanted to capture. They always had a malicious glare that made them look evil. I could have continued
Getting Past the “Scary Eyes” Deterrent in Writing Read More »
During my recent move to Florida, certain people have done something unthinkable; they have ordered me to take a break from writing. “At least for a few weeks,” they said. “Until everything settles down.” No one has ever ordered me to take a break from eating or breathing but writing is dispensable, they say, not
Writing Through Stress and Upheaval Read More »
In a rough draft, I was told, anything goes. Write quickly, ignore mistakes, plow on despite grammar errors, keep the awkward wording. I was told that this kind of writing releases bursts of wild creative energy and honesty, that it is a way to evade the “internal censor” – the nagging inner critic in every
Reclaiming the Freedom of the Rough Draft Read More »
Since early childhood, I wanted to be a writer. I wrote exuberant stories about vampires, hidden treasure, and animals. Over the years, teachers, friends, and relatives read my stories, smiled, and encouraged me. They told me I wrote well, and so I should write more. By adolescence, writing was not just something I wanted to
How I Lost My Guilt and Became Addicted to Writing Read More »
When you stare at words all day, it starts to affect you. Lately I have written so much that I see sentences floating behind my eye-lids when I am trying to go to sleep; even worse is that I often try to revise them. In light of this, it may not be surprising that I
My Great, Manic Comma Blizzard – and My Torrid Tryst with a Dash Read More »
