A few weeks ago, I reread a series of online newspaper columns I’d written in 2011. The writing was clear, informative and grammatically sound, but it was also …boring. Around the same time, I picked up a copy of “To Show and To Tell” by Phillip Lopate*. In this book, dedicated to the craft of “literary nonfiction,” Lopate writes that nonfiction authors must not shy away from revealing their authentic selves, regardless of how flawed, weird, or even dull, they believe themselves to be. Ultimately, he writes, even when the subject is not memoir, it’s the writer’s unique perspective, their…
Your Voice Matters
Sitting Down To Write
The first step towards writing anything is deceptively simple. It’s sitting. But it’s not just any sitting. It’s sitting in front of a blank page or screen — the prospect of which can be intimidating. While there are people who can sit down and get right to business, for others it can take time. If you are one of these people, do not fret if you find yourself: Straightening out your desk, living room or kitchen Watching Netflix Making a cup of tea Lighting a candle Throwing out the garbage Even experienced writers can dismiss such puttering as mere…
Facing The Monster
If you are not discouraged about your writing on a regular basis, you may not be trying hard enough. Any challenging pursuit will encounter frequent patches of frustration. Writing is nothing if not challenging. – Maxwell Perkins Whether we’re seasoned writers or inexperienced newbies, there’s no question that facing the blank page, or even a page we’ve already written, can feel like facing down a monster. Creativity is a major area of stress for most, if not all, human beings and few things are as sensitive as offering up our creative babies for feedback. At times, it may feel like…
Editing Brings Out Your Writing’s Clarity and Power
I’ve always loved exploring the deeper meanings hidden in art, movies and books. Themes pop out, patterns emerge, and I find connections that elude other people. I first used this gift as a film student, and then as a screenwriter, helping peers discover what they were trying to say with their scripts. Later, this gift also made me good at reading tarot cards. Without even thinking, I could fill in the blanks, and tease someone’s life story out of a series of seemingly unrelated symbols and images. I love stories, I love language… And I love editing. Editing calls on…
Making Connections To Tell Great Stories
I’ve always loved exploring the deeper meanings hidden in art, movies and books. Themes pop out, patterns emerge, and I find connections that elude other people. I first used this gift as a film student, and then as a screenwriter, helping my peers discover what they were trying to say when they felt stuck with…
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