Are you a limbo writer? In other words, does your prose sit in a perpetual purgatory on your hard drive waiting for your attention? If so,…
Recently a friend sent me a panicked text message about her work-in-progress. She said something like, “Do you ever think your manuscript is just awful, and…
I often meet writers who are looking for words of wisdom. Some are wearing the same deer-in-the-headlights look I’m sure I had when I was a…
It’s New Year’s Eve, which means you’ve got less than 24 hours to sum up the year and plan for the future. No pressure! Whether you…
You’ve just finished your first manuscript, or your third, or your tenth. You’re elated but also slightly disoriented. You may have been working on this labor…
Endings can be a controversial subject. At more than one movie, I’ve stared at the rolling credits and asked, “are you kidding me?” Sometimes I start…
I’m often asked what advice I would give to a new writer just embarking on this creative path. I’m going to limit this post to my…
It sits in the back of your file, taunting you, tormenting you. Someday, you promise yourself, you may actually finish it. The truth is, though, that…
When people compliment my ability to “write an entire book,” they’re usually talking about the first draft. Lots of prolific short story and essay writers can’t…
“I’m just a perfectionist, you know?” We’ve all used this to excuse our bad habits, maybe even to pat ourselves on the back for tackling those…