Category Archives: Revision

Messing It Up to Make It Good

Posted on May 30, 2014 by Laura Stanfill

Earlier this month I went on a writing retreat to Manzanita, a lovely little Oregon coast town. Well, it wasn’t so much a retreat as a publishing panel weekend. Which I turned into a retreat. Instead of walking on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Revision, Writing | Tagged , , | 17 Comments

Revision from the POV of a Publisher

Posted on April 25, 2014 by Laura Stanfill

When Paul Martone, founder of Late Night Library, asked me why, as fiction writers, we volunteer our time to help other writers, I answered. Because he was recording. This interview.  I can’t remember what I said then, because it’s been a … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Revision, Writing | Tagged , , | 17 Comments

The End

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Laura Stanfill

I spent six glorious days hiding out at a friend’s house, working on my nineteenth century novel. I’m sure I’ll share more about the experience once I settle back into my everyday routine, but for now, I’ll say this: I … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Revision, Writing | Tagged , , | 23 Comments

My Favorite New Writing Resource

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Laura Stanfill

I love people who exude positivity, people who look at the world and see opportunities to grow and learn. That kind of glass-half-full outlook is contagious. Christi Krug, the founder of Wildfire Writing, brings that kind of positivity  to writers … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Community, Revision, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

A Bit of Sweetness (From Chapter Four)

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Laura Stanfill

I promised myself I’d get back into my novel this month. Forest Avenue Press will still be my primary focus, but I want to make room in my life for Henri, my protagonist now languishing in Chapter Four, draft two, … Continue reading →

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Revisions: One Year Later

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Laura Stanfill

Around this time last year, I went to my novel critique group and listened to my peers talk about the first draft of Lost Notes, my 19th century historical novel. This is what I wrote about the results of that process: … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Revision, Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 31 Comments

A Letter to My Protagonist

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Laura Stanfill

Dear Henri, If you belonged to someone else, you would be at the end of your journey, standing in a glass aviary in Rhode Island, surveying where you have been during drafts one and two. If you belonged to a … Continue reading →

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

The Joys of Editing

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Laura Stanfill

I love to edit. Not just my work, but other people’s work. Ever since I can remember, friends have been coming to me with their reports, essays, resumes and the like. As a twenty-something, I became a newspaper editor–the perfect … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Revision, Writing | Tagged , , | 26 Comments

Author Interview: Bestseller Selden Edwards on The Lost Prince, Using Historical Details in Fiction and Handling Rejections

Posted on August 16, 2012 by Laura Stanfill

I’m so excited to welcome Selden Edwards in celebration of today’s release of his second novel, The Lost Prince. The Little Book, Selden’s dazzling 2008 debut, changed my perception of historical fiction—and the direction of my work-in-progress—when I happened upon … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Fiction, Revision, Seven Questions, Writing | Tagged , , , , | 25 Comments

It’s Rejection Week!

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Laura Stanfill

Next week might just be the biggest, most exciting week on my blog. Ever. On Monday, I’ll feature a conversation with Yuvi Zalkow, whose debut novel A Brilliant Novel in the Works will be released on Tuesday. You may know him as … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Fiction, Revision, Seven Questions, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 28 Comments