We’ve all got things we’ve learned along the way, and when we’re in the public eye, people expect us to deliver our nuggets of wisdom in ways that are entertaining and engaging. But they don’t want a dry lecture, they want to hear our story. When you’re wondering what stories you have to tell, try starting from the end. Think about something you’ve learned along the way and remember back to how you learned it. What was happening in your life? What was important to you at the time? And did you learn from success or failure? You may surprise…
Your Voice Matters
Tagged Writing
Wanna make a room of white people feel awkward…?
Books by writers of color are more likely to be banned. That’s right. In the above Bitch Media interview with Kristen Pekoll from The Office of Intellectual Freedom with The American Library’s Association, she states that more than three quarters of the books banned by school libraries in 2017 were by, or about, people of color. “What does it say about our culture that people don’t want these books on the shelf?” she asks. Even though offended parents, teachers and administrators claim that they object to these books due to religious, political, sexual, or other “controversial,” content, what they all…
5 Things Writers-of-Color Should Look For In Their Book Editor
I recently attended a Northwest Editor’s Guild event called “Authors on Editing,” during which three writers spoke about their experiences working with editors. I gleaned a lot of useful information from the panel discussion, and it’s always great to meet other editors. But as great as the event was, I couldn’t help noticing what was not said, and the editors and writers who were not there. If you’re a writer of color, you know what I mean. That’s right. This room was almost entirely white — except for me and, even though I’m a Latina, I look white — and there was not a single mention…
Eliminating the Headache of Writing Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Manuals
Standard operating procedures (SOPs) are step-by-step instructions that act as guidelines for employee work processes. Whether written up in numbered steps or formatted as flow charts, effective SOPs are complete, clearly written, and based on input from the workers who do the job. When employees follow the SOP for a particular job, they produce a product that is consistent and predictable. If creativity is key to your business functions, SOPs may not work for you. Strict adherence to standardized rules can restrict creative flow. However, if your goal is to produce the same product over the long term and increase…
On The Necessity of Turning Oneself into a Character
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…
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…
