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How a Book Is Born, Part 11
In an earlier blog post, I talked about how writing this novel in a short period of time has required me to change some of my processes. The main changes include researching and rewriting as I go along, instead of making one mad dash to get the first draft complete and then revising to backfill…
How we name things
I know a lot of people who are writers and reporters, and recently I’ve been hearing them say things like, “It’s easy churning out copy for this client” or “I can churn this project out in a day, how much should I charge?” I’m sure I’ve used that phrase myself, especially as regards work that…
“Inspiration is for amateurs.”
Or so says the artist Chuck Close. And even though I spent half the morning staring out the coffee shop window, hoping the divine spark would fall out of the sky and land on my head so that I could figure out how to write the scene I’m working on in my newest novel, I absolutely agree with…
On where I work
I usually spend some mornings each week at my favorite coffee shop, working. The change of scenery is good for me, and sometimes if I have to spend one more hour in my own house, I won’t be responsible for my actions. But occasionally I go somewhere else, because sometimes (not too often!) change is…
Your perfect game
If you follow sports, and even if you don’t, you probably know that Dallas Braden threw a perfect game for the A’s on Sunday. For some perspective: that was the 19th perfect game in the history of Major League Baseball. Given that your local team plays 162 games each season, and there are…
Thinking Like an Agent, Part 5
Back when I was working as a literary agent, Writer’s Digest published an article I wrote on thinking like an agent. Though I’m an acquisitions editor now, not an agent, these pointers are all still true. I wanted to update them and share them with you. What I wrote then: 5. Be yourself – but…


