Whether you're an aspiring writer pitching a book idea to agents, or a seasoned author whose editor expects a synopsis for each
Read Morehow to write a novel
A Survival Guide for Women Writers
Whenever I speak to aspiring writers at libraries or bookstores, I inevitably hear stories like these from women: “I used to write, but
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During National Novel Writing Month, One Novelist Contemplates the Point of Writing Fiction—and How to Pay the Bills While Doing It
A few days ago, Bob Clary, the Marketing Manager at Webucator, asked if I'd be interested in writing a blog post about what keeps
Read MoreArt vs. Commerce: Can Traditionally-Published Authors Keep Up with Indie Authors?
My head is spinning after reading the latest letter by Editor-in-Chief Kevin Larimer in Poets & Writers magazine. Larimer makes some
Read MoreWhat’s So Hard about Writing a Novel? Everything.
There is always a point, about 250 pages into writing a novel, where I want to set fire to it. I have done that in the past.
Read MoreIn Praise of Copy Editors, Publishing’s Unsung Heroes
“I crossed out 'Tuesday' because later you say it's Wednesday.” “She's fifty-nine here and fifty-eight on page 102. Which
Read MoreStory, Setting, and Emotion: Why Places Matter in Fiction
Tomorrow I'm headed to Prince Edward Island for a long weekend. This is no easy feat. From my house in Massachusetts, it takes a
Read MoreTurning Family Stories into Novels: The Boy in the Back Bedroom
My mother tells better stories than anyone. As a child, my favorite was about the time she babysat for a family in her rural Maine town. The parents
Read MoreHow Long Does a Novel Take to Write?
I binged this past weekend. Not on reality TV or chocolate or martinis, but on writing. I booked a cheap off-season condo in Maine and wrote 17,822
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