Writing Tips
Hiring and Working With an Editor
Just out of college, he had never written a book before, much less hired an editor. He asked for help from a few friends and his mom, but they didn’t want to hurt his feelings or find flaws with his work. He needed a professional who didn’t know him to do a thorough cleanup and…
Read MoreCrazy-Busy Writer
When the young writer didn’t communicate in his usual combination of valley-speak and text-speak, I knew something was up. “I’m crazy-busy,” he spouted, jittery as an overly caffeinated Chihuahua. I paused to inhale, maybe have a thought, so he anxiously interrupted to cement his point. “Like, OMG, cray-cray busy!” Oh, NOW I get it! Sure,…
Read MoreRevolutionary Revision
All the writing for his book was on one flash drive. Bending to the tyranny of fear that harm might come to the computer – a theft, a lightning strike – Bob only wrote on the flash drive, placing it in different spots throughout the house to further protect his work. Eventually, he couldn’t find…
Read MoreSentiment on Sentimentality
The thunder boomed directly overhead interrupting the writers’ group. All five of us gasped, then fell stone silent before continuing with our review. Soon, the severe thunderstorm played with the power, the electricity escaping each of three lights in succession before they came back to full brightness, went out again, then came back on. The…
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