Has this happened to you? You have a good idea for an ending of a short story. You figure out the plot twist that will bring together the various narrative threads. You think of that “aha” moment that will crystallize…
Fellowships Who wouldn’t want a writing fellowship? A year or two with minimal professional obligations and time to write. Most of these opportunities are fiercely competitive—not surprisingly—and application costs are a consideration. But many people apply year after year, with…
Borrowing a craft element from another writer can be a great way to kickstart a new project, or re-energize an existing one. There are many ways to do this, of course, but here we want to focus on borrowing the…
Hidden Machinery, Margot Livesey Tin House Books, 2017 A collection of ten essays on writing by the great Margot Livesey is a book to be savored, to be read again and again. A thoughtful reader as well as writer, Livesey’s…
The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley, the newest novel by Hannah Tinti, uses two separate timelines as its primary structure. The first timeline follows Samuel Hawley and his daughter Loo after they have moved back to a fishing village north…
Here’s a quick look at some of the great books out the week of October 16. Happy pub day to all! C. Morgan Babst, The Floating World Algonquin / Workman From Kirkus Reviews: “’Grief was infinite, though, wasn’t it,’ thinks…
Dialogue is the one of tools we have for showing us who the characters are and how they relate to each other. The best dialogue includes some amount of subtext and conflict. One of the good ways to get at…
Crash Course, Robin Black Engine Books, 2016 This lovely collection houses a series of essays on writing and on life. Many of the short essays live in the place where writing and life intersect, and as the book progresses, you…
One of the best ways to work on your craft is to participate in a writing class. Depending on where you live, though, it may be hard to find a good in-person workshop or class. Luckily, there are many good…
Here’s a quick look at some of the great books out the week of October 9. Happy pub day to all! Marian Crotty, What Counts as Love University of Iowa Press From Publishers Weekly: “Crotty’s impressive debut collection is…
