For years, I had this terrible tendency NOT to ask for help, as if someone else helping me meant the story was any less mine. As if acknowledgment lists in books weren’t basically short stories. But I saw that the other members of my writing group were so much better about asking for help, and […]
We talk all the time about how to shore up our weaknesses. That’s basically what getting a critique is all about! And it’s super useful. But not having huge weaknesses is just what makes a book acceptable. What makes a book brilliant is its strengths. So how can you learn to make your crazy diamonds […]
When I think about my reader experience of a book, I think about music. Just as with music, when I read a book, I feel three distinct kinds of satisfaction: intellectual, emotional, and resonant. Every book plays with these elements differently—the way classical compositions play across treble, mid, and bass. Taken together, they create a […]
Something I’ve been working on while brainstorming is mapping out themes and concepts that are sparkly to my brain. Time will tell if it’s useful, but it was really interesting to me, especially in the context of analyzing my past work, and examining areas I haven’t yet explored. It also made me feel super connected […]
After I finish writing a book—regardless as to whether it’s succeeded or failed, or had the opportunity to do either—I usually spend some time unpacking what I can learn about myself, my process, and my writing. This helps me solidify the things I’ve learned, identify the areas I’d like to improve, as well figure out […]
Imagine for a moment everything your character cares about—Love, Friendship, Family, Country, Ideals, Religion, Tradition, Self, and Things More Specific—as a string, wrapped around your character. The more your character cares about that thing, the tighter that string is pulled—the more tension on the line. The more strings? The more interesting it gets. Tension […]
Critique is the part where you tell an author everything they did wrong, right? Yes, absolutely! You need people who will tell you about the lipstick on your teeth, or that your skirt—while very fetching—has been tucked into your underwear since noon, preferably before you go out to lunch. But critique is also the part […]
Critiquing a book isn’t so much about telling someone what they’re doing wrong, but helping them see their book better. This means not only telling the author when I think something’s not working, but also when I think they’re doing something right, and more importantly, why. This helps the author to really see their book […]
I love post-apocalyptic fiction. Especially when the apocalypse is recent. Let me count the ways: 1. Post-Apocalyptic Bloomer. When I was a kid, I learned cartography. And I was damned good at it. I could give directions on the fly using paper maps for just about anyone, fast enough for the driver to make the turns, […]
Anyone who knows me knows I love to dance. And dancing, for me, has always meant learning new and fun choreography. Until recently. This year, I started taking classes at a studio that emphasizes learning to freestyle. In these classes, we all start out dancing together, but in the end, we each pick out one […]
