Inspiration
Acceptance and Rejection: What You Need to Know About Both
Whenever we send our work out for publication, acceptance and rejection are both part of the deal. In this video we’re going to talk about how to manage both. On the publishing side, we’ll talk about the different rights magazines might purchase for your story, and what it all means. We’ll also talk about the… »
Thinking Like a Real Writer
Many people define a “real writer” as one who’s published. I’ve always had trouble with this definition because, as far as I’m concerned, one has to become a real writer before publishing’s even on the radar. A real writer thrives, not from raw talent alone, or a list of publishing credits, but from an inner-directed… »
Measuring Success
Recently an aspiring novelist told me she would never feel successful unless she published a bestseller. I replied that book sales have little, if anything, to do with literary achievement. After all, if making the bestseller list is the chief barometer of a writer’s success then Jackie Collins and Victoria Gotti are outrageously successful. I… »
Dissolving Writer’s Block
We’ve all faced it at one time or another. We sit down to write, hell bent on churning out pages of vivid, moving prose. Then instead of being set on fire, we feel like a dried up speck of dust. With no soul. Writer’s block is no fun and while some assert that it’s just… »
Can Writing Be Taught?
Writers often ask me if writing can be taught. While I don’t believe the desire and dedication to write can be taught, I’m convinced that writing can be strengthened, nourished and deepened by an awareness of craft. This is true of any art form. Great dancers, for instance, train with merciless rigor, making multiple pirouettes,… »
