On working with writers
Similar Posts
On Acts 6 through 124
The past few weeks, I’ve been talking a bit about what I learned from Acts 2 through 5. But probably the most important thing I learned from the exploration was why I tried Acts 2 through 5. And here’s the thing: I’m always going to be looking for something else/better/different. I get bored easily. I…
On what happens when you stop trying
I’m allergic to cats. I sneeze, my eyes turn red, I break out in big blotchy hives, I can’t breathe. So if I’m ever in the vicinity of a cat, I do not touch the cat, I do not say the cat’s name, I do not even look at the cat. Of course that means…
On the importance of setting
I’ve never been much of a person for scenery as my friend Diane can tell you, which is probably because I spent many decades in Kansas where the scenery is very subtle, vast oceans of field and sky, and you can only distinguish landmarks after thirty years’ careful study. One of my challenges as a…
On how to write just right
Every time a writer asks me, “Do you think if I do what this editor suggests, my novel will get published?” I have to pause to experience a moment of pity before I can respond. If only it were that simple. Let me explain. In one corner are those editors who you might hire yourself…
On why I love freelancing
Jessica is seeing her neurosurgeon and getting good news, and the nurse makes an appointment for a follow-up visit in six months and ushers us out, asking, “Do you need a written excuse for work or school?” And for one mad moment I cannot make any sense of what he is saying. I hear…
On knowing the future
Terry Pratchett is wicked smart and his comic novels come with a sting. He found out a few years ago that he is suffering from early-onset Alzheimer’s, and to read his most recent novel, I Shall Wear Midnight, with that knowledge is enough to make you cry. His young protagonist, Tiffany Aching, and her sidekicks,…