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• American Life in Poetry: Column 341 | 10.04.11

  4335 readersBY TED KOOSER, U.S. POET LAUREATE, 2004-2006 Here’s a poem of mixed feelings by Don Thompson to help us launch October. Thompson lives in Buttonwillow, California, which sounds like the name of a town in a children’s story, don’t you think? October I used to think the land had something to say to us, back when wildflowers would come right up

• Painting in the Blanks

  2746 readersBrunonia Barry on Painting in the Blanks It isn’t the blank page that I find terrifying. It’s the idea of beginning. I can easily put words on a page, that’s not the problem. I often begin a new novel by doing something I've heard described as "clearing your throat." I usually write fifty to a hundred

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  Writers’ and Artists’ Blog

  1472 readersA while back I blogged about how fantastic the Children's Writers' and Artists' Yearbook is. Then recently I got a very exciting email. Claire, the publisher for Yearbooks at A&C Black, had come across the post and invited me to be a guest blogger on their blog! I was so thrilled!I've been a fan of the

• The Infastructure of David Foster Wallace’s “Backbone” | 03.14.11

  4438 readersAs I mentioned a few blogs back, David Foster Wallace’s short story, “Backbone” recently appeared in The New Yorker.  And now, The New York Times Magazine’s new 6th Floor Blog leads us to a fascinating comparison—a 2000 draft of the story can be read side-by-side with the final version, allowing us to see the numerous

• Pictures of You

  4481 readersAs I mentioned last week, I'm now finished the first draft of 18 Kisses! I'm meeting with my editor next week to discuss the rewrites, but at the moment I'm catching up on all the other stuff I was avoiding during first draft madness, and thinking about book 3! (which is as of yet untitled.)

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  A Little Update

  1512 readersHello Everyone!Isn't December so much fun?!  Winter is my favourite time of year. I love sitting on a big armchair beside the fire, writing stories and drinking tea.  My auntie got me a really handy cushioned laptop support from Ikea for for my birthday, so i can now sit super comfortably.I have spent the past few

• Are You Cutting With Shears or a Chainsaw?

  2549 readersThere are hundreds of writing mantras we've all heard, and they always come back to haunt us as we pull out that ugly first draft and our trusty red pen to begin the editing process. Original Post: Are You Cutting With Shears or a Chainsaw? Your eBook: Click here to download the Basic English Grammar ebook.

• The First Rewrite

  4954 readersLast week, I finished the first draft of a novel that is due next April. This week, I began my first rewrite, a process I enjoy far more. I know that for many of you, rewriting is less exciting than writing that first draft. For you, there is nothing more thrilling than creating something from

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  My Blog Post Writing Process

  5965 readersphoto by Rune Guneriussen Guest post by Katherine Ploeger As I have been writing more and more blog posts, I have found a routine that works for me, and I thought others might benefit from that information. Each weekday morning, I start by draft...

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  Writing Novels – The Dilemma of How to Tell Your Back Story

  1595 readersPhoto by Lens Flair Guest post by Tracy Culleton We writers have a real dilemma. Modern readers don't have lots of time for us to waffle on, they want us to get straight to the action. Screenwriters are advised to go in as late as possible and leave a...