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Category Archives: Writing
My students, my friends
It’s “In Print Week” here at Ball State–the In Print Festival of First Books. Each year, we invite to campus a poet, fiction writer, and nonfiction writer who have published their first books. This has been a great year for … Continue reading
Posted in Literary Citizenship, Teaching, Writing
Tagged Dzanc Books, Erie, Eugene Cross, Fires of our Choosing, In Print Festival
3 Comments
For the man who called me for advice about how to get published
To the man on the phone who called me today at my university office and asked if I had a few minutes to help him figure out how to get published. First, wow, the phone rang. That hardly ever happens. … Continue reading
Posted in Literary Citizenship, Teaching, Writing
27 Comments
How to Talk to Writers
A key principle of literary citizenship is that writers should build their community and expand their circles. Not “network.” Not “schmooze.” In her book Living a Literary Life, Carolyn See advises writers to send one “charming note” a day to someone in … Continue reading
Posted in Literary Citizenship, Teaching, Writing
Tagged Bonnie Rough, Carolyn See, Rachel Fershleiser, social media
1 Comment
The English Major’s Dream Job: Book Review Advice from David Walton
You can find this week’s “Big Thing” post over at the Literary Citizenship blog. My friend David Walton shares his advice about book reviews: how to write them, how to sell them, and why we need them.
Posted in Literary Citizenship, Writing
Tagged book reviews, David Walton, John Updike, literary citizenship, Rebecca Skloot
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On Writers Without Websites
My husband and I have started a little website business, of sorts. We’re not looking to build or expand, mind you. We have one client, my yoga teacher/massage therapist. I’ll call her Violet. She runs a studio out of her … Continue reading
The Agony and the Ecstasy of Making Things Up
This week, my novel writing students have to think about whether or not they are “Outline People” or “No Outline People,” or (more likely) something in between. I decided to write about this, too. What’s my process? Here’s how I … Continue reading
Posted in Mrs. Cole Porter, Teaching, Writing
Tagged Downton Abbey, lord carnarvon, pantser, plotter, storyboard, writing process
5 Comments
What I’m Working On
I’ve been “tagged” in the Next Big Thing Blog Hop (this meme-type thing that’s been making the rounds) by writer/editor Jill Talbot (who was tagged by Barrelhouse editor Tom McAllister, who was tagged by writer Katherine Hill, etc.). I have never met Jill … Continue reading
20 answers to the question: “But what should I blog about?”
Relax. Don’t try so hard. If you focus on the stuff that matters to you, everything else will fall into place: finding readers, an audience, your tribe. Pay attention to what you Tweet and share on Facebook. Maybe that’s … Continue reading
Posted in CW Programs, Literary Citizenship, Teaching, Writing
Tagged blogging, literary citizenship, social media
4 Comments
Be Interested in What Other People are Doing
So, now I have three blogs. This blog. #amnoveling, which I use for my novel-writing class. (Go there now and read my students’ posts about their favorite novels and their writing regimens.) and now one for Literary Citizenship
Posted in CW Programs, Literary Citizenship, Teaching, Writing
Tagged blogging, literary citizenship, social media
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A Story about Creativity
A long time ago, I was asked to be a part of a study about Creativity. I’m not supposed to reveal who sponsored this study, but suffice it to say it was well funded. Let’s call them the Company. The … Continue reading
