UPDATE: The legendary Anne Lamott is raising donations for the Obama campaign. She and her hordes have already raised over $70,000, exceeding her original goal of $10,000 by—let’s see, that would be—seven times over. And you can join her! Please do. Never doubt that thoughtful committed citizens can change the… Read more“1 Secret Trick to Becoming a Genius Writer in One Day”
Author: Victoria
4 Tricks for Improving Your Fiction in One Day
We’re talking this month about instantaneous ways to improve craft—because, as Carrie Fisher says, “Instant gratification takes too long.” We’ve talked about 2 Tricks to Breaking Writer’s Block in One Day. And 3 Tricks to Ratcheting Tension in One Day. Now let’s talk about how you can use your own… Read more“4 Tricks for Improving Your Fiction in One Day”
3 Tricks for Ratcheting Tension in One Day
I love the idea that so much of learning to write well starts the instant you learn it. What a fabulous craft! Last week we learned 2 Tricks for Breaking Writer’s Block in One Day. Now for the rest of the month we’ll be talking about other tricks that also… Read more“3 Tricks for Ratcheting Tension in One Day”
2 Tricks for Breaking Writer’s Block in One Day
Last week I talked to a friend I hadn’t seen in awhile who’s writing a memoir. She told me she was having a lot of trouble with it—she can’t make herself write about a particular incident she seriously needs to write about. She asked me if I had any advice:… Read more“2 Tricks for Breaking Writer’s Block in One Day”
The Art & Craft of Story: 2nd Practitioner’s Manual
This is a special midweek post, not part of my regular blog series, to make a long overdue announcement—I’ve been working all summer on the sequel to The Art & Craft of Fiction: A Practitioner’s Manual. I call it The Art & Craft of Story: 2nd Practitioner’s Manual, and I… Read more“<em>The Art & Craft of Story: 2nd Practitioner’s Manual</em>”
Eliminating the internal critic: for young writers
Hi Ms. Mixon, I’m 15 years old and I’ve loved to write ever since I can remember, but for the last two months or so, I’ve been stuck staring at a blank page. Whatever I try to begin seems stale and tacky, and my narrative voice has become awkward and… Read more“Eliminating the internal critic: for young writers”
What Does Writing Mean to You?
I’m not here this week, which is why you can’t see me right now. But that doesn’t mean the conversation won’t go on. We’ve been talking this month about How You First Got into Writing and How Many Degrees of Separation You Are from Your Literary Idols. And today I’m… Read more“What Does Writing Mean to You?”
How Many Degrees of Separation Are You from Your Literary Idols?
Last week we told the stories of how we got into writing. They were great fun—all those busy four-year-olds cooking up stories, all those mad teens clacking away on typewriters under the raised eyebrows of the taken-aback, even some of us who came to this craft recently and are only… Read more“How Many Degrees of Separation Are <i>You</i> from Your Literary Idols?”
Getting the most out of graduate school for writers
I would like to write in Historical, Fantasy, and general Fiction genre. I am currently researching about the Tudor period for a novel I would someday like to write. Also I am considering graduate schools. Do you have any advice on good programs for my interested genres?—Melanie Lambrecht Ask your… Read more“Getting the most out of graduate school for writers”
4 Ways Writing Reminds Us We’re Alive
It’s the Fourth of July this week, which is America’s version of a Summer Solstice extravaganza. We set off fireworks, eat too much barbeque, take a long weekend to look around at our loved ones, recognize their faces, and remember why we’re here. So let’s talk about four ways writing—because… Read more“4 Ways Writing Reminds Us We’re Alive”