I have a theory. My theory is that a person’s ability to engage with art is directly proportional to that person’s willingness to explore the inner depth of their own lives. Consider two different people who walk out of a movie theater together (or we could switch out the setting for an art gallery, a […]
July 1, 2012 by 72 Comments Writing LifeWhy Do Bad Books Get Published?
One of the most common beefs among writers is that the industry is glutted with bad books. A common riff of encouragement in writing how-to books and blogs is that unpublished authors should take heart because all they have to do is open a recent bestseller and claim the mantra, I can write better than […]
July 25, 2010 by 30 Comments Writing InspirationWhap! Pow! Zing!—How Can You Tell if Your Story Has Emotional Resonance?
The magic ingredient in fiction is that special something that socks readers right in the gut and leaves them breathless with joy or sorrow (or maybe wabi-sabi, the Japanese view of beauty in imperfection). We’ve all read books that were perfectly executed, but somehow lacked that magic. For example, I thoroughly enjoyed the word craft […]
September 27, 2009 by 26 Comments Writing LifeWhy Somebody Is Certain to Hate Your Book–and How You Can Deal With It
Anyone who doubts the subjective nature of art need look for persuasion no farther than Amazon’s review pages. For instance, Stephen R. Lawhead’s Hood received opinions varying from the effusive Lawhead at his best. and Rip-roaring good story. to the insistent No real plot, resolution, or drama. and Slow, uninspired and pointless. How could the […]
