fiction with a dark edge
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 →
Unless you’ve been living in a cave or atop a Himalayan peak, you’ve probably heard the news that humans now have a shorter attention span than goldfish. (Eight seconds, in case you’re wondering.) This revelation translates, for writers, into a series of eminently logical commandments: Write shorter sentences. Use shorter words. Construct shorter books. Use... Continue Reading →
You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Nature trumps nurture. [Insert cliche of your choice here.] You get the idea: it’s difficult if not impossible to change your beliefs, attitudes, temperament, essence, and—most significantly—your actions. That doesn’t stop humans from trying. Billions go into self-help and self-improvement every year. Many of these dollars produce... Continue Reading →
*Too Many Novels Exist Already If you’ve ever written a novel, contemplated writing a novel, have a friend who has, or have looked at trending hashtags on Twitter recently, you are no doubt aware that November is National Novel Writing Month, NaNoWriMo for short. National Novel Writing Month is also a non-profit, with a mission... 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 →
AUDREY KALMAN 