Tips for Dealing with Writers Rejection
Even the toughest of us writers feel the sting of rejection. Or as one article (now deleted from Psych Central) posits:
“Rejection … makes us question or dismiss whatever we’ve created. It makes us question ourselves as individuals. It confirms our worst nightmares, our inner critic’s blistering beliefs. It shakes up our self-worth, and hurts us at our core.”
Is This Thing On? 6 Tips For Doing Author Interviews
This week I was interviewed by the editors at The Fem, an online feminist literary magazine.
It's always a thrill to be interviewed--not just because it's flattering, but because it forces us to step back and behold our work, our lives, and why we even bother to write in the first place.
Teaching Creative Writing Workshops: 8 Ways To Prepare and Plan
I often teach and lead writing workshops—primarily in New England and greater Boston—and there's nothing more thrilling than rummaging through my Evernote files and bookshelves to find just that right article or essay or video clip that will, I hope, inspire a group of writers.
Valentines Day Essays
I've never been a big holiday person. There have been years when I wish Christmas would go away, when I wanted to keep my birthday secret, and when I spent Thanksgiving just walking on the beach. And please, don't get me started on Saint Patrick's Day.
When The Writing Life Turns Scary (Plus Some Fixes)
Vampires? Witches? Ghouls? Yes, they're Halloween scary (maybe), but they've got nothing on our spookiest writer moments.
Page to Stage: Reading A Memoir Out Loud
Before I submitted it to my literary agent, I re-drafted and edited the pages of my book-length memoir at least 20 times.
Last March, I toted my printed manuscript--plus a bunch of sticky notes--to a Florida beach where I lounged under the tropical rays while giving the book its final copy edit and spit polish.
Labor Day, Writing and Stephen King
Seven years ago, a student of mine recommended Stephen King's book, "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft."
I had never read a King novel, but I decided to give his book on writing a try.
6 Lame Writer Excuses (and 6 Reality Checks)
I just got off the phone with a young intern who is working on a blog post about how new writers get started and get to break into publishing.
“What do you think is the single biggest barrier to getting published?” She asked.
“Yourself,” I said.