As an independent editor/beta reader, I see a lot of writers fall into the message trap - they have something they want to say, something they feel is important, and they're very passionate about it. There's nothing inherently wrong with this - in fact, even if you're a pantser (vs a plotter), you should be … Continue reading A message is not a story
Tag: Writing
A recommitment to writing
I've done over the past few months what I often do, which is turn inward. I always tell myself I'll keep a blog going, and it's not for lack of words and ideas that I don't. It's more just that introvert's tendency to want to live in your own head, in your own private writings, … Continue reading A recommitment to writing
The art of subtlety in writing
Good writing knows when to show and when to tell. 'Jacob Have I Loved' has some great examples of this.
Throwing out sparks
For many of us who live in the U.S., this is a frightening time. I feel the ball of anxiety tightening in my chest everyday, triggering a queasy feeling, an uneasiness that hovers around me. My concern for this country and the people in it is at unprecedented levels - I am, at times, actually … Continue reading Throwing out sparks
Word gardener
Grad school is out for the summer, which means I finally have more time to decompress...and think, and write, and read about things that aren't part of my grad program. Someone once described grad school to me as intellectual boot camp, and I think there's a truth to that. I would actually call it emotional … Continue reading Word gardener