Category: Contemporary Women Writers
Nature and Writing: Water
I’ve always been inspired by water—be it a creek, a river, or the ocean. It’s probably no surprise then that all three of my novels have a connection to water. When I write a book, sometimes the words trickle in like an arid stream; other times, the words gush forth like a raging river or […]
This is Not a Book About Charles Darwin: a Writer’s Journey Through my Family
The reviews are just beginning to come in. One calls This is Not a Book About Charles Darwin “charming”, another “witty and eloquent”, but a third praises its “naked courage and fiercely intelligent understanding”. I’m thrilled, but they don’t sound like the same book, do they? The thing is, right from the start, This is […]
Writing to Release Pain
I more or less raised myself. My father was a raging alcoholic and my mother was fighting her own demons. Thank goodness I found some solace in writing. I started journaling at an early age. I found my violent home life confusing and often escaped into books. Then I began writing, first in my diary […]
What’s the Recipe?
Everything I’ve read about successfully writing in today’s market strongly suggests having a detailed picture of the person you’re writing for. They say it’s imperative to laser-target your audience so you can pick the right genre for your book. I’ve tried to be a good scout and do what I’m told. I’ve sketched out my imaginary reader several […]
This Is How You Get Over Your Fear Of Writing
Everyone fears the blank page. Anyone who says otherwise is either lying or drunk. Julia Cameron created her morning pages in The Artist’s Way to help scared artists dump their creative urges onto the page before the voice of fear takes hold. Steven Pressfield has written entire books about the resistence that holds us back […]
The Book Belongs to the Reader, Not the Writer
When asked about how I feel about ‘my’ book, I explain that a book belongs to the imagination of the reader. Readers relate to the character and sometimes they are unaware of the author or illustrator. I’m ok with that. The author’s job is to craft the concept as well as possible. Then the reader […]
Me and My Agent: Christina McDonald and Carly Watters
A few days ago I did an interview and one of the questions was did I think having an agent was crucial in this business. The answer for me was a huge, resounding yes. My agent is Carly Watters at P.S. Literary Agency, and I literally wouldn’t be where I am now without her patient […]
Love at First Line By Megan Collins
First sentences are a lot like first dates. If I’m intrigued by an opening line, if I feel a spark upon reading it (or, in the case of my own stories, writing it), I’m likely to keep investing my time. We all know that covers can be deceiving. They’re akin to a picture on a […]
Braver Than the Average “Girl”
Decades before there was a month dedicated to women’s history and long before the words “Nevertheless, she persisted” become a cultural touchpoint and rallying cry, there were groups of American women that that were daring to make history in extraordinary ways. Some of these women still have yet to receive recognition they deserve. One such […]
Musicals And Writing
When I agreed to write a piece for this fabulous website about how musical theater influences my writing, my first thought was: “How long am I allowed to ramble?” My second was: “How do musicals NOT influence my writing?” Full disclosure, though you can probably tell from the [Title of Show] reference in the title, […]
Recent Comments