When it comes to reading books, do you have commitment issues? And by this, I don’t mean fear of committing to a book. I mean the opposite: fear of abandoning a book, even if you don’t like it. I’ll confess, I’ve struggled with book commitment issues. I have slogged through countless books that I didn’t […]
writer's life
Hope, Caught in a Handful of Essays
If you’re worried about the next generation, I have good news. They’re going to make us proud. Back in April, I had the privilege of being a judge for a Colorado high school’s essay contest. I only got to read 6 of the 57 entries, but even so, I am encouraged. The kids are alright. […]
An Unexpected Benefit of Critique Groups – On the RMFW Blog
When you think of critique groups, you probably assume (hope) that they’ll give you some constructive feedback to improve a scene, chapter, or story. But did you know that’s only half of the benefit you can gain from a critique group? And it’s probably not even the most important half. I’m blogging about this over […]
10 Ways Writers Celebrate Spring
In the spring a writer’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love. And murder. And family drama. And history. And alien worlds. And vampires with a three-legged dog, an unfulfilling career, relationship woes, and daddy issues. Here are ten ways writers celebrate spring. It may not do as much for their house’s curbside appeal as, […]
When the Internet Returns Lost Things
When I was young and in school, two poems found me and wedged themselves into my memory like a shim wedging a gap beneath a door. The first was in high school. It was written, said our teacher, by a person in a jail cell, looking out his very tiny window. I remember neither the […]
Why Does Writing Look Effortless?
Of all the arts, why is writing the only one that looks effortless? Why is the struggle of learning to write so invisible to the outside world? Can they not see the blood, sweat, late nights, and myriad revisions? No one wakes up in the morning and decides to be a concert pianist by lunchtime. […]
