I am very pleased to post this essay by my friend Lucia Orth, author of the 2008 critically-acclaimed Baby Jesus Pawn Shop: I came across some old notes in the past few weeks from an interview and the follow-up research I did while working on the early stages of my… Read more“Deadheart: Making Use of Discovery in Writing”
Category: Fiction Writing Advice
Everything about fiction.
Writing in a second language
I’m happy to post this guest essay by the insightful Mark Budman, author of My Life at First Try: English is a second language for me. I learned it as an adult. The accident of birth and immigration is both a curse and a blessing, but “blessed is the one… Read more“Writing in a second language”
Top 10 Blog for Writers
Remember when I asked you guys whom you’d like to see in the Top 10 Blogs for Writers of 2010/2011 at Write to Done? And some of you said, “Justin Bieber”? Just kidding. I don’t even know who Justin Bieber is (only that his name crops up everywhere). No—many of… Read more“Top 10 Blog for Writers”
Linking to Moby Dick
I’ve mentioned before my addiction to the Hugh Laurie characterization of P.G. Wodehouse‘s quintessential dingaling, Bertie Wooster. Bertie is everything hopelessly one-sided about the British upper classes: white, male, rich, privileged, and a complete brainless gorm. He’s melodramatic, narcissistic, and self-glamorizing to the point of insanity. He’s also, fortunately, good-hearted,… Read more“Linking to <em>Moby Dick</em>”
Pulp Rag: Creating the internal conflict in character
“You are the most assertively confused individual I have ever seen in my life.” —Adrienne Uphoff to her husband Jeff, personal conversation Character. It’s the only reason anybody ever writes anything. . . Read the full essay on Pulp Rag.
Stalking the classic mystery again
I’m still reading brilliant mysteries (mixed in with a few non-brilliant ones) this summer from my fabulous new Brilliant Mystery Outlet, the local thrift shop. Here are the latest highlights: A Case of Spirits, by Peter Lovesey, 1975: They’re billed as Sergeant Cribb adventures, but Cribb is the least of… Read more“Stalking the classic mystery again”
Meeting across the river
“Hey, Eddie, can you lend me a few bucks? Tonight can you get us a ride? Gotta make it through the tunnel, got a meeting with a man on the other side. . .” —Bruce Springsteen, “The Heist” aka “Meeting Across the River” An interesting topic’s being wrestled into submission… Read more“Meeting across the river”
Bringing you the party from Nathan Bransford's blog
How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live. —Thoreau So I’m having a wild time over on Nathan Bransford’s blog, where my post “Everything You Need to Know About Writing a Novel, in 1,000 Words” went up yesterday. People have been… Read more“Bringing you the party from Nathan Bransford's blog”
Upcoming guest post on Nathan Bransford's blog
I just learned my article “Everything You Need to Know About Writing a Novel, in 1,000 Words” will be one of the guest posts on Nathan Bransford’s blog this coming week, while he’s out doing good in the world. Yes, I’m pretty happy about it. I do want to thank… Read more“Upcoming guest post on Nathan Bransford's blog”
Literary Mash-Up Extravaganza, Day #5
The Long Farewell, My Lovely Philip Marlowe gets hopelessly confused and rescues a psychotic young woman with a happy triggerfinger from the law, while Moose Malone deals rough justice all over Los Angeles before taking off for Mexico. Nick Now We Are Six Degrees of Separation Christopher Robin grows up… Read more“Literary Mash-Up Extravaganza, Day #5”