“Writing has become for me a type of meditation, that hour or two that I spend in the mornings every day. I wouldn’t want to give that up even if I couldn’t publish books or I had never sold my book.” Read More “Karen Thompson Walker: How I Write”
In her debut novel, Vaddey Ratner looks to her personal memories about fleeing the Khmer Rouge and to creative spirit as an artist to honor the lives of the fallen. Read More “In the shadow of terror”
The novelist talks about developing character, crafting stories and the passion necessary for both. Read More “Russell Banks’ currency”
Novelist Samhita Arni has a simple style, but her method is every bit as deliberate as the original writers of the myths she revisits. Read More “The mything queen”
Novelist Susanna Moore confronts topics that make readers shiver while firing up their imaginations. Read More “Comfortable with the uncomfortable”
A master of the essay form offers advice about grappling with words. Read More “The contrarian gambit”
“The first draft is like throwing a hunk of clay onto the wheel. It’s literally getting down the raw material, and revision is my way of going back to shape something from that.” Read More “Nina Revoyr: How I Write”
Paying close attention to verbs can enliven writing. Writer and editor Constance Hale explains the vex, hex, smash and smooch of language’s punchiest words. Read More “Hale verbs well met”
“Once possessed by a certain story, I have to get it out. My characters don’t give me any choice. Then I write 24/7.” Read More “How I Write: Jenna Blum”
One successful freelance writers share practical tips for staying busy in the current economy. Read More “How top freelancers like Melba Newsome do it”
Banish those walking clichés from your work for good with these tips. Read More “Pro tips for avoiding clichéd characters in fiction”
Type “character worksheets” into a search engine, and you’ll find hundreds of resources to develop your protagonist and other characters. Some of the worksheets are … Read More “Character interlands: A new way to develop the character worksheet”
Editor-proof your stories with these tips. Read More “4 ways to instantly tighten your fiction”
