On working with writers
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On the difference between reality and fiction
Jessica is my biggest fan, and she thinks it is very wonderful when I write a book, and even more so when it gets published, and not just because I take her out to dinner to celebrate. But she cannot understand why I am so mean to my characters. She thinks that the best story…
A Matter of Perspective
Some months ago, when I started working with a Spanish teacher here in Málaga, we were practicing the difference between “ser” and “estar.” Both are verbs that mean “to be” but (in overly simplistic terms) ser is used for permanent states of being (“I am from the United States” = “Soy de los estados unidos”)…
6 Steps for the Time-Crunched
We’re heading into one of those times of years where there are more demands on my time than time to deal with them. But as ever, I have a solution to my time-crunch problem. I just have to dig it out and remember what it is. Step back. I ask myself, “What are you doing,…
Big Projects and Productivity
A comment on a previous post points out that people sometimes get stuck on long projects and stall because they haven’t figured out the next step. “Write a book” seems a little daunting. You can’t get it done today. So you shy away from getting started at all. Productivity gurus talk about figuring out…
No such thing as failure?
A theme I hear a lot from writers (not necessarily my clients, but colleagues and acquaintances) is something along the lines of “I need to be published” and “I have to sell this project.” A little poking (gently done) reveals that these writers think if this project doesn’t sell or they’re not published this year, they will be…
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…
