Tag Archives: writing advice

Interview: Melissa Donovan, Founder of Writing Forward, Discusses Blogging and Prioritizing Multiple Projects

Posted on September 5, 2011 by

Looking for creative writing tips? Exercises? Resources? Prompts? Grammar advice? Melissa Donovan, today’s Seven Questions subject, is the founder and editor of Writing Forward, an invaluable blog for anyone looking for information about the craft. Melissa, a website designer and … Continue reading →

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

Writing Challenge #8: Behind-the-Scenes Engineering

Posted on August 19, 2011 by

I recently completed Cascade, a baby cardigan, for a friend due this month. What looks like a sweet, simple leaf design is actually a complex feat of engineering. The designer is Raya Budrevich of Blissful Knits & Dyeworks, known for … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Knitting, Writing, Writing Challenge | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Pregnancy and the Writer’s Brain

Posted on July 29, 2011 by

Many authors talk about novel-writing as being pregnant with a story or birthing a world. It’s all grand and metaphoric. And then there are those who are actually pregnant while writing a novel. We turn into a bundle of hormones … Continue reading →

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

Writing Challenge #7: Small Changes, Big Rewards

Posted on July 15, 2011 by

I usually write fiction double-spaced in Word with paragraph indents. When starting my new novel last fall, though, I opted to write single-spaced with no paragraph indents. Sure, it’s a very formal business-letter look. But each page appeared wildly different … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Revision, Writing, Writing Challenge | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

The Three-Fourths Theory of First Drafts

Posted on July 8, 2011 by

I call my work-in-progress my third novel, but really it’s number four. And in terms of books, it’s number five due to a nonfiction jazz band biography I wrote in 2000-01. But that’s another story. What those numbers mean is … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Revision, Writing | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

A Very Personal Take on Revising a Novel

Posted on June 30, 2011 by

Ever wonder about how other writers revise their novels? How they solve their biggest plot problems? How they chop and replant themes and characters while doing their best not to ruin the other 100,000 words? As the author of several novels … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Plot, Revision, Writing | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

Writing Challenge #6: Pick a Prompt and Go for It!

Posted on June 17, 2011 by

When I interviewed novelist Yuvi Zalkow, I suggested everyone view his presentation, “I’m a failed writer.” If you missed it, today’s challenge is for you. Pop over to his site. Watch all 14 minutes of “I’m a failed writer #1: Revisions.” You’ll … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Revision, Writing, Writing Challenge | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments