With everything going on in the world these days, I recently felt the need for some light entertainment. That's when my publisher sent me a first proof of What Remains Unsaid. After I finished jumping up and down with excitement—since this means the book will be coming in 2017—I spent the rest of a rainy... Continue Reading →
Certainly, this is more difficult than writing an essay. You will envy those youthful writers who not only did it in their twenties (or earlier) but got published—and famous. To keep from becoming too discouraged, you’ll have to look for writing icons who didn't blossom until later in life. Now that the envy is under... Continue Reading →
I recently had a discussion with my son about why I enjoy editing so much. He admitted—to my surprise, since he's not much of a reader or writer—that he enjoys editing too. "It's like ironing a big pile of wrinkly clothes. It's really satisfying." (Not that he has ever actually done this.) This seems to... Continue Reading →
One thing you learn about life after a while is that there is never a perfect time for anything. A few weeks ago, my former doula client, Fault Zone assistant editor, fellow writer, and friend Dorcas Cheng-Tozun e-mailed me to ask if I’d be interested in participating in a “blog hop.” Flexing my haunches and... Continue Reading →
mid·wife - verb (used with object) 3. to assist in the birth of (a baby). 4. to produce or aid in producing (something new) I've gotten some nice compliments over the last year for my fiction editing. People seem to appreciate thoughtful, constructive feedback that respects the essence of their voice and their message. And... Continue Reading →
And now for something completely different… a conversation! I’m excited to interview Kourtney Heintz, author of the recently published novel "The Six Train to Wisconsin." I’ve been following Kourtney’s blog for more than a year. I was honored that she chose to interview me about CreateSpace when she was deciding what publishing route to take. ... Continue Reading →
I once heard it was a good idea for everyone to have a job as a waiter or waitress at some point in their lives. (I believe the correct word these days would be "server.”) The idea is that we’ll all be restaurant customers and turning the tables on the situation---so to speak---will give us... Continue Reading →
I have been working hard to finish another editing pass so I can share my manuscript with beta readers at the end of the month. As I work, the commonalities between editing a manuscript and scrubbing the crapper become ever more obvious. You put it off until you can no longer tolerate the stench. To... Continue Reading →
Those three words are my cue. Each day when I finish writing, I type them in brackets wherever I have left off writing. The next morning, I search for [stopped here today] and go instantly to where I need to begin. (I also use [edit from here] so I know which sections need a going-over... Continue Reading →
