Monthly Archives: May 2011

Let Your Story Grow

Posted on May 31, 2011 by Laura Stanfill

Let’s face it. As writers, there are times we need a little extra encouragement. (Or a hug.) Sometimes it’s so hard to escape into a story world when there are other, more visible tasks pressing for attention. It takes a … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Writing | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Writing Challenge #5: The Parsnip

Posted on May 26, 2011 by Laura Stanfill

This is a giant parsnip. Sometimes writers get timid on the page. Unsure. We let our anxieties, or our fear about what people might think, get in the way of the work we’re trying to do. This can make certain … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Writing Challenge | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

Author Interview: Emerald Barnes Discusses Publishing an E-book, Marketing Strategies and Effective Writing Habits

Posted on May 23, 2011 by Laura Stanfill

Emerald Barnes is the author of the novella PIERCING THROUGH THE DARKNESS, an e-book for Amazon Kindle. She’s here today as part of my Seven Questions interview series, where I ask writers, artists and other creative professionals about their work, their … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Seven Questions, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Maybe I Need a Hug–or a Vacation

Posted on May 20, 2011 by Laura Stanfill

Time for a confession. My novel LOST NOTES has been frustrating me since I decided to examine my protagonist’s motivation. Instead of finding his, I lost mine. Then I walked away from the page. For more than a week, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Revision, Writing | Tagged , , , | 25 Comments

A Wonderful Local Writing Resource

Posted on May 19, 2011 by Laura Stanfill

I moved to Portland, Oregon, in September 2001, sight unseen, because I had heard about the city’s excellent coffee, independent bookstores and craft brewpubs. I also hoped to connect with other writers. Within the first few months, I discovered a … Continue reading →

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The Flipback Book, Part 2: Exclusive Interview with Arthur van Keulen of Jongbloed BV, the Dutch publishing company

Posted on May 16, 2011 by Laura Stanfill

With the flipback set to debut in England next month, I’m so pleased to introduce Arthur van Keulen, international marketing manager of Jongbloed BV, the Dutch publishing company that created this innovative book format. The goal of the product, as … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Flipback, Reading, Seven Questions | Tagged , , , | 27 Comments

All You Want to Know About the Flipback Book (Part 1)

Posted on May 13, 2011 by Laura Stanfill

Could the flipback revolutionize publishing? Definitely. Here’s why, starting with a definition of this innovative book format for those of you who missed Patrick Kingsley’s column in the Guardian. While flipbacks certainly play into the smaller-is-better trend in entertainment, unlike e-readers, no … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Flipback, Technology, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 41 Comments

Writing Challenge #4: Appearances Can Be Deceiving

Posted on May 12, 2011 by Laura Stanfill

This is the front cover of the sesquicentennial edition of the Vassar Quarterly, the alumnae/i magazine. (Yes I went there, hence deferring to the publication’s inclusive and always consistent use of alumnae/i to recognize and celebrate its heritage as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Writing, Writing Challenge | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Interview: Poet Julene Tripp Weaver on Taboos, Structure and Strategies for Selecting Poems for a Collection

Posted on May 9, 2011 by Laura Stanfill

Julene Tripp Weaver’s latest book of poetry, NO FATHER CAN SAVE HER, was published by Plainview Press in 2011. This powerful collection tells the first-person story of a girl navigating the physicality of the journey from youth to adolescence (and ultimately adulthood) … Continue reading →

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The Plot’s Intact, But Where’s the Motivation?

Posted on May 6, 2011 by Laura Stanfill

As I’ve mentioned, I’m new to writing plot-first. One of the biggest risks, apparently, is feeling disconnected from my characters. I know how my protagonist Henri reacts to the world around him, but not why. He thinks he’s living on borrowed … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Plot, Revision, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 12 Comments