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…
The Writer’s Desk
The Writer’s Desk: Better late than never
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 late…
The Writer’s Desk: Writing conference survival tips
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; they…
The Writer’s Desk: It’s a mystery to me
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 board….
The Writer’s Desk: The secret to telling a great story
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 lists….
The Writer’s Desk: Finding story through a different lens
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 imagination….
The Writer’s Desk: Should we ignore the rules for writing?
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 if…
The Writer’s Desk: Five qualities shared by good stories
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 children’s…
The Writer’s Desk: The key lies in the details
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 with…
The Writer’s Desk: Bad decisions make great stories
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…
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The Writer’s Desk: ‘Let’s talk,’ he ascertained, and other dialogue tag problems
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…
The Writer’s Desk: Where do I start?
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 an…
The Writer’s Desk: Six things to know before (and after) your book is released
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 Writer’s Desk: ‘Tis the season to be writing
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…
The Writer’s Desk: Tell me a story
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 when…
The Writer’s Desk: Get paid for your writing while having fun
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 block…
The Writer’s Desk: Why did I read that?
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, and…
The Writer’s Desk: Nevertheless, she persisted
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. Every…
The Writer’s Desk: Say it loud, say it proud
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 in…
The Writer’s Desk: Repetitions of a theme
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 seasons….
The Writer’s Desk: Prepare to Celebrate National Poetry Month
In Ray Bradbury’s Zen in The Art of Writing, he asks,” What does writing teach us?” “… [writing] reminds us we are alive ….and writing is survival…while art cannot, as…
The Writer’s Desk: Tips for making the most of your writing
I love films about writers. A good indie movie, The Magic of Belle Isle, is directed by Rob Reiner and stars Morgan Freeman as a writer who has stopped writing. Freeman’s…
The Writer’s Desk: Lights, camera, epic fail
During my teaching career, teachers were expected to operate under the mantra Failure Is Not an Option. This always struck me as flawed because how do we learn if we…
The Writer’s Desk: Yes is better than no
Rejection is part of writing. It hurts when you open that e-mail or envelope and read, “Sorry…we don’t have a place for your work.” It takes elephant hide and steely…
The Writer’s Desk: The power in drafting to discover what your book Is about
In 2020, I presented a session on Making it to the Finish Line at the Write on the Sound (WOTS) conference. During Q&A near the end, in the chat feature…