Process
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Every writer sings a sad sad song
You know what sucks? Rejection. You know what else sucks? Rejection never actually stops sucking. And the third suck? You never stop getting rejected in one way or another. This is true in life, but it is particularly true in artistic endeavors. I got two rejections last week. And they both sucked. They weren’t my Read more
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Leave yourself a trail of bread crumbs
I like big flapping loose ends that end up tying the whole story together in a surprising way. And the most effective way to do this is to surprise myself. Read more
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online writing workshop and what it has done for me
I was asked recently to contribute what my favorite online review site has meant to me and I thought it would be helpful to share it here as well. I discovered the online writing workshop for science fiction, fantasy and horror (OWW) on the website of one of my favorite authors, Cecilia Dart-Thorton as a Read more
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The thing about editing
After much procrastination, I am finally back to my last round of edits and I’m pleased to discover it is not nearly as difficult as I anticipated. This is pretty much always the case when I actually get into editing, but every single time I’m looking at the task ahead of me, it seems overwhelming. Read more
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thoughts on red pens
thoughts on red pen editing Read more
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Picking an idea for NaNoWriMo that will carry you through
In order to write 50,000 words in 30 days, you certainly need discipline and determination. A plan is nice too, but without passion and inspiration, there will be little joy in the challenge. Without joy, it’s very possible you will not be able to manufacture the motivation to see it through to the end. There Read more
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Editing tricks you might not know of
Officially back up to my waist in editing, slicing away chunks of backstory, re-writing chapters, cutting and polishing, polishing and cutting. I’m sure you know by now this is not my favorite part of the writing process, no matter how necessary. However, I have learned a few things over the years, from other authors and Read more
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Good ways to think about Bad Reviews
Being a writer who puts their work out in the world requires courage. Real courage because you are laying your soul bare to be picked at and ridiculed. No matter how thick a skin you’ve developed, no matter how humble, and no matter how much you believe in your work, you will be hurt when Read more
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Interesting, Realistic Conflict
Two things that shouldn’t be in a riveting story? Too many wild loose ends and tight pretty bows. Now the loose ends, they can flap around through out the story, being tethered down one by one, but at the end, unless you are writing a series, they should be pretty much accounted for, if not Read more
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Rejections: the other half of pursuing a writing career
Once upon a time I had a great story concept. I was so excited about it I queried before I’d even finished the first draft (cue cringes from all writers reading this). It was, in fact, so good that I got two agent responses. One that said “I’d love to get your query when this Read more
LC W. Allingham 