R.I.P. NaNoWriMo. I never did know you. Every November when you came around, I thought, “Write a novel in one month—are you crazy?” And now you’re gone. For those who don’t know, NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month, involved a grinding...
I despaired of ever becoming a writer. Then I read John Gardner’s “On Becoming a Novelist.” John Gardner was an American author who wrote the novels Grendel and The Sunlight Dialogues, among others. He also taught medieval literature and was a...
Producing hundreds of pages of text requires a feat from the brain akin to an athlete’s performance. And so, like athletes, writers need to do all they can to up their edge. You probably know self-care helps. But did you know music helps too? Self-care...
Or: three lessons in overconfidence and impairment LESSON ONE: Manuscript feedback. After working with many advanced readers and professionals, I believed my book was ready. So I published it on KDP and ordered 100 author copies. Then the real-world critiques crashed...
Newsletters are a great way to connect with people, if done the right way. 1. Start with your inner circle and keep it short. I began with my gracious friends and family. But still, in my anxiety, I sent very short, apologetic newsletters of about 300 words. Then...
