The Chopping Blog

Can creative writing be taught?

April 18, 2019

I would go so far as to say talent is an overrated component. If I was a gambler, I’d put my money on an average writer who knows how to work hard over someone who is supposedly talented but doesn’t know how to apply the AOC rule (Ass On Chair).

On the craft

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Questions to ask yourself – Part 1: Worldbuilding

April 11, 2019

Fleshing out a new narrative? Fine tuning the physical and cultural landscape of your setting? Use this list of questions to firm up the scaffolding behind your story—a great exercise for writers of speculative and historical fiction.

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From Idea to Book: the story of The House of One Thousand Eyes

March 06, 2019

With a good editor, the editorial process is like a mini-MFA. I always come away having learned something important, not only about my own work but about the craft in general. There were a few important things happening off-stage in the novel that needed to have their own scenes. And I had to cut several gems—lines I was in love with that unfortunately weren’t appropriate in tone for the scenes they were in. Was this hard? Yes. Did I argue with my editor? Yes.

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Writing a Synopsis 101

February 03, 2019

A synopsis is a clear and direct summary of your manuscript that should highlight your engaging protagonist, your emotional arc, the originality of your vision, and the logic of your plot.

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Just Walk Away

January 30, 2019

The day I finish a novel is always the best and worst day. Best, because it’s a relief to finally close a file I’ve read ten thousand times and let someone else have a go at it. Worst, because . . . what do I do now? My whole life has been organized around that imaginary world. Suddenly my real, messy life demands my attention and I can’t use my novel as an excuse anymore.

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Querying 101 – Ten Tips and a Template

January 26, 2019

Finding the right literary agent for your manuscript requires a lot of homework. And then, once you've found someone with aligned interests, convincing them that your project is polished and marketable is another battle altogether. Therefore, if you want to work with the agent of your dreams, make sure you put in the time, effort, and research required to make your dream a reality. Remember, you only get one shot.

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Driven to Distraction

January 18, 2019

Multi-tasking might be a good thing for some professions, but for writers, it’s a death knell. You don’t want to be multi-tasking when you’re writing. You want to be absolutely focused on the one thing you’re doing: bringing to life the picture that’s playing in your head.

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Dear Writer

November 30, 2018

It takes courage to send out your work, as well as a large measure of faith. I’d like to share a secret that might help. Yes, the writing is personal. But sending out your work? Pure business. If you can separate your heart from the business side of things, you’ll be ahead of the game.

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Self-Publishing: Book Marketing 101 with Dave Chesson

November 26, 2018

If you have decided to self-publish your novel, then you have also decided to do your own marketing. That is no easy task, but with the right support and direction, many people are succeeding in the self-publishing world. For some, their self-pub success is such that they never pursue traditional publishing. For others, one great self-pubbed title can be the stepping stone to representation and a house contract.

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“There is no real ending. It’s just the place where you stop the story.” ― Frank Herbert

November 24, 2018

The end of a story, as well as the beginning, exists as one arbitrary point in time for the characters who are presumably going about their day, unaware that they are about to enter or even conclude a critical and story-worthy segment of their lives. What I'm referring to is narrative plausibility.

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The End . . . For Now

November 11, 2018

Another thing that happens when you come back to a manuscript with fresh eyes: you spot things like thematic connections and symbols you had no idea were there. Most of this is stuff you did without even realizing it (yes, you are that smart). The trick now is to tease out these connections with a light touch, plant the seeds that need planting—and then walk away and trust your reader to get it.

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"The best writing is rewriting." ― E B White

October 31, 2018

A local theatre troop wrote a brilliant musical called Ride the Cyclone, which ended up on Broadway. A few years ago they held a fundraiser show in which they performed several numbers that had to be cut because they didn't end up fitting the story. This was an eye-opening experience for me. The songs they cut were amazing!

On the craft

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