Note to readers: This column first appeared in 2021 but is being reposted to announce EPIC Group Writers' writing contest, which opened Feb. 1.
Over the years I’ve entered and...
Recently I saw a Facebook meme that showed a picture of Vlad the Impaler, and the caption read, “Vlad didn’t start impaling until after he 30. It’s never too...
Writing conferences are great places to hone your craft, connect with professionals, and commune with like-minded souls. I often say “my friends and family don’t mind that I write;...
Picture this scene: A group of teens is playing a game of Monopoly. The four kids chat amiably as they roll dice and move their game pieces around the...
I don’t have all the answers, and there is no universally appealing story, but there are elements in books that hold massive appeal and end up on best seller...
Do you have other creative interests besides writing? Whether you whittle, do crafts, or play music, that creative effort enhances writing by opening channels in your brain to your...
Recently I bought a book by Chuck Wendig of Writer’s Digest called Gentle Writing Advice: How To Be A Writer Without Destroying Yourself. Wendig uses lots of profanity, so...
While each of us has individual taste in literature, according to Cheryl Klein in The Magic Words, there are universal qualities evident in good books. Her guide focuses on...
A few years ago, I took a one-week poetry workshop at Kenyon College with David Baker. In that short summer class Baker shared a semester’s worth of his knowledge...
When a protagonist makes a bad decision, it creates conflict for himself and others, and this tension is what makes us want to keep turning pages.
Events alone are not...
Imagine you see a short story, or an entire novel that begins with:
“Shut up!” he proclaimed.
“NO!” she intoned.
“Why not?” he shouted in a fierce tone.
“Because.”
“Because why?”
“Because I don’t want...
Often, I hear from participants in my workshops, “I don’t know where to begin.” With any new venture, be it fencing, baking or playing chess, you will not be...
Congratulations! You wrote a book and you’re now a superhero. Whether you’re traditionally or self-published, here are a few things to keep in mind:
You can’t please everyone. The more...
The weather outside is frightful, but as a writer, the weather can always be balmy on the page.
This time of year, I just want to stay curled under my...
Like many kids, I required a bedtime story each night before I’d agree to go to sleep. In elementary school my favorite times, besides art on Friday afternoon, were...
Many of you may be preparing for the annual November nanowrimo challenge of writing a novel in 30 days, aka National Novel Writing Month. It’s a great way to...
I’m not a gamer, and If I hadn’t enjoyed Gabrielle Zevin’s previous book, The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, I may never have opted to read Tomorrow, and Tomorrow,...
When Jordan Peele said, “It’s impossible to work in this industry without having scars.” Peele was referring to the film business, but the same principle applies to book writing....
Epic Group Writers recently hosted an in-person celebration for winners of its annual contest, and the finalists read their entries out loud. As an audience member I took pleasure...
French impressionist Claude Monet is known for painting the same subjects over and over, such as his more than 30 versions of haystacks at different times of days and...
