The fastest way to frustrate readers is to write everything but the good parts of a story. You’d think this would be a no-brainer. After all, as story aficionados ourselves, we’re presumably writing the story because of the good parts. The action, the romance, the comedy, the drama. We can’t wait to get it on paper, and readers can’t […]
May 1, 2011 by 48 Comments Writing InspirationUnderstanding—and Accepting—the Reasons You Write
What are the reasons you write? This is a favorite question in writing forums, polls, and interviews. Sooner or later, all writers must answer this question, either for themselves or some curious second party. It’s a simple enough question, but it can be surprisingly difficult to answer. Even after we’ve answered it, we sometimes find […]
February 22, 2008 by 7 Comments Writing LifeCatharsis and the Written Word
Pop quiz! Anybody gone through one of those days when you just want to throw the telephone into the toilet, crawl under the bed, and solace yourself with chocolate and Kleenex? Or maybe you know the kind of day (or week, or month, or year) I’m talking about, but your chosen response involves throwing large […]
