You know what’s amazing? Suddenly, now that I’m officially in the revision stage, it feels good to cut words, scenes, even entire chapters from my book. Months ago, I lamented doing away with pieces of this travel memoir I had worked hard to create. But now that I’ve declared it my task to cut everything […]
I finished a draft of my book! That’s right, I’ve written through the entire manuscript. It feels like a huge accomplishment. I’m ready to move onto the next stage: revision. Actually, I’m already well into the revision process. I’ve edited 16 of my 33 chapters. At least one critique partner has read through them, and […]
Happy Friday! Lots of good links out there this week: What makes a blog successful? By Penelope Trunk. Should new authors go to BEA? (BookExpo America, that is.) Literary agent Janet Reid says don’t bother. Literary agent Rachelle Gardner rebukes some publishing myths, including that authors should never write proposals for fiction. Back from the […]
I’ve long wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail. Walking the 2,178-mile footpath is on my bucket list — my list of things I want to do in my lifetime (before I kick the bucket). It’s more than a list of my goals — it’s a compilation of my dreams. We often work toward our goals, […]
Hey regulars! And a warm welcome to newbies who discovered this blog because of an interview I did over at Mira’s List earlier this week. Glad to have you. Links from this week: How much money would you make from a New York Times Bestseller? This author tells all. Speaking about your book: Seven Tips […]
Had I waited a bit longer to name Cooper, I might have called him Shadow. This dog has been glued to my hip since the first day I fed him outside my studio at The Hambidge Center. Now that he’s living with me in upstate New York, he’s on my heels whenever I get up […]
Happy Friday! Some great links out there this week: Writer’s Digest offers ideas on how to start your memoir on the right foot. A practical Savvy Author’s Guide to Podcasting from Editor Unleashed. How does a writer cut text from his story and not lose his soul? Editorial Ass weighs in. The Creative Penn makes […]
My best friend just had a baby. The writing-a-book’s-like-having-a-baby analogy has always annoyed me. No matter how laborious (pun intended), creating something with your mind just cannot be compared to bringing another person into this world. But Lauren got pregnant right around the time I started writing this travel memoir. Her baby is in a […]
I recently discovered a fabulous blog, Mira’s List, which helps writers, artists and other creative thinkers find grants, fellowships, residencies and more resources. Who’s the woman, I wondered, who compiled this valuable information for free and shared it with everyone lucky enough to stumble across her site? Turns out she’s quite the interesting character. Mira […]
A big welcome if you’re here for the first time courtesy of The Creative Penn, who hosted me for a podcast this week on travel writing and writer’s residencies. You’re just in time for the weekly writers’ roundup, a collection of my favorite links, which runs each Friday. Since returning from my writer’s residency, where […]