By Stan Crader I’m a novelist working on a non-fiction-it’s a stretch. The facts, once known, are easy to report. It’s the finding of facts, also called research, that’s painstaking, time consuming, and hard work; two of the three are okay. I’m working on the history of Stihl in America. Stihl, for those few who don’t know, is the largest …
The 80/20 Lifestyle
By Suzanne Woods Fisher A few years ago, I stood in a long snake of a line at the Department of Motor Vehicles with my youngest son, Tad, who was eagerly poised to take the test for his learner’s permit. Unfortunately, we neglected to read the fine print of the permit paperwork. After finally reaching the front desk, the DMV …
Organize Your Writing Life
By Edie Melson I don’t care if you’re a freelance writer, nonfiction writer, novelists or something of a hybrid. The truth is that you have to wear a lot of hats to find publishing success. You have to be able to write on a deadline, plan marketing campaigns, utilize social media, and of course, write. The increase pressure to do …
Unexpected Reasons to Be Thankful You’re a Writer
By Beth K. Vogt I read somewhere that Thanksgiving has become the holiday Americans skip over, cramming it between Halloween and Christmas. How hollow life becomes when we forget to be thankful. When we don’t stop long enough to consider all the reasons we have to be grateful. So today, I’m offering a few I-never-thought-I’d-be-thankful-for-this reasons that I’m glad I’m …
Blurriness
By Darlene L. Turner “Stay focused; do not lose sight of mercy and truth . . . ” (Proverb 3:3a VOICE) You know what they say . . . “A picture is worth a thousand words.” But what if the picture was blurry and out of focus? It’s worthless. Or is it? Have you noticed when you first press the …
In Celebration of Technique
By Michelle Arch A curious thing seems to be happening in MFA workshops and critique groups. Criticism regarding spelling, grammar, and punctuation is considered hypercritical and offered only with considerable apologies for nitpicking. “Your editor will catch and correct those problems” seems to be the widespread assumption, which disregards entirely the fact that, as unpublished, amateur writers, we don’t yet …
Make Me Care
By Kathleen Y’Barbo Now that I commute for my job, I love listening to podcasts. I can thank my daughter for this habit, as she’s the one who told me I should give them a try. Most of the time, I listen to writing-related podcasts. My list isn’t particularly long, but I do have a few favorites. Joanna Penn’s The …
Never Underestimate the Value of a Power Edit
By Dianna Booher My most valuable learning experience in graduate school also happened to be my most humiliating. Having read the first hundred pages of my master’s thesis, one of my thesis directors, a literary prize-winning novelist himself, handed back my novel with downcast eyes and mumbled something about “needs to be tightened.” One line of his review of my …
Every Day Acknowledgements
By Sara Ella I’ve been thinking about acknowledgements lately. My debut novel is with my editor as I write this, so I’ve been working on that little section the goes at the back of the book. You know, the one that’s supposed to be short and sweet. The one in which I am expected to fit all my thank yous. …
First Drafts: Fast and Free
By Katherine Reay As I write this, The Bronte Plot launches in two weeks and my next manuscript is due in a few days… As you read it, both are behind me. And at both times, I’m buried in first drafts. My son is working on college application essays and one of my daughters is tackling her first two high …