Plot the Path to Transformation
“In the midst of life’s journey I found myself in a dark wood, for the right path was lost.”—Dante, the Inferno We have all felt as Dante expresses above at one, or many points, in our lives. Those of us who write might, in fact, be doing so as a way of finding the right …
Deepen Your Characters
When we write fictional characters, they begin as relative strangers. Sure, he may dictate a tale to you in a “voice” so vivid you would swear you had met him before; or you may know what she looks like and where she comes from, but for most writers, the characters only become real to you …
Writing that Transforms
My altar is a sprawl of papers and books stacked precariously, pens that have lost their caps and odd flotsam that got put here in some moment while, busy chewing on story ideas, my fingers simply dropped an item. There’s no incense or holy water here, and my priest is not one, but many voices, …
The Write Work
“You bring to your writing, your art, and your stories a piece of yourself. In return, the act of creating gives you the possibility of something even greater: true transformation.” I’ve come to an unavoidable crux in working with writing clients. It is my job to advise and critique on the nature of making a …
Call Me Coach
Despite the bad rap that comes with the title, as a kid I always wanted to be teacher’s pet. Not just for the praise; it seemed that to get more time with one’s teacher was to be closer to the source of learning itself—and I was a Hungry Learner. It’s from this standpoint that I …
Turn Inward: Make Your Own Noise
It’s been awhile since I’ve presented my Reasons To Write series…mostly because I have been writing and working and a lot of other things, so it’s good. But lately I’ve been feeling the strain of information again upon me—the strangely addictive cycle of spending lots of time on Facebook, reading my tweetstream, getting most of …
Fight Overwhelm: Make Magic
*Register for Fiction’s Magic Ingredient today, receive a FREE 1-week intensive in December–your choice of 4. Ok, try a little experiment with me now: attempt to hold the entire world, plot, characters and landscape of your novel in your mind ALL AT ONCE. That’s right–can you see it all–every plot point and character nuance, every …
What Slug-Bug Can Teach You About Writing
Have you ever played the game “slug-bug”? You know, on a long road trip with a sibling or a friend, every time you see a Volkswagon Bug (or whatever your vehicle of choice), you have to punch your friend on the shoulder? And how, after awhile, your arm all tensed up waiting for the sting of …
Make Me Tense…please
One of many things I find so marvelous about writing fiction is that what works in real life might never fly on the fictional page, and often vice versa. Fiction is a simulacrum (oh how I love pulling that word out) of reality, or even more so in the case of fantasy and science-fiction, a simulated …
Contest: Why Writing Matters
Last week I posted a blog entry with 10 Reasons Why Writing Matters (Even When You’re Still Unpublished). Now, exciting news: I’m hosting a contest that opens tomorrow (August 15) and ends on September 30th. Send me your most original paragraph on why one of the following reasons is true for you–examples appreciated–and you will be put …
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