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Everything I Know About Writing I Learned from the Rolling Stones
November 15, 2022

Mick Jagger probably never realized this, but he and his bandmates knew a lot about how to write a good novel.
- On the craft
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- 2 comments
Writer's Block—Myths & Realities
November 08, 2022
Good things take time. And writing, like any craft, involves an apprenticeship period. It’s not a block. It’s a learning curve. Embrace the mess.
- On the craft
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- 1 comment
Setup Is Not Stasis: How to Write a Gripping First Chapter
October 12, 2022
Context plays an important role in fiction and narrative nonfiction. It adds depth to the characters, the setting, and the conflict. Context is also your best tool for creating in readers a sense of participation. The trick lies in subtlety.
- On querying
- On the craft
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Five Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Dialogue
September 28, 2022
A sign of well-written dialogue is when you’re reading it without making any active effort to understand who’s speaking or what their mood is like.
- On the craft
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- 1 comment
Should you pay for beta readers?
July 10, 2022
Readers are diverse; they each bring their own expectations and preferences to any story they read. As such, it's best to get a wide range of opinions about your narrative.
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- 1 comment
How to self-edit your novel like a pro
July 06, 2022
The author’s first job, whether they are writing fiction or narrative nonfiction, is to transport readers into their characters’ world.
- On the craft
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Story Skeleton—Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?
May 29, 2022
What Oates controls so beautifully in this story is the quality and intensity of escalation.
- On the craft
- Story Skeleton
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Resource Review: George Saunders' Story Club Substack
May 06, 2022
Comments are supportive and personable and warm; it truly does feel as though we’re all in a giant MFA cohort together, and remarkably, I often fall into thinking Saunders is speaking directly to me.
- On the craft
- Resource review
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- 2 comments
Five Things to Do in Preparation for Working with an Editor
April 26, 2022
Getting your book professionally edited is crucial if you want to be able to compete with other titles in the market, but it can also be daunting when you’re doing it for the first time.
- On the craft
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Story Skeleton—Stargirl
April 11, 2022
We don’t particularly need subplots or B-stories or great complexity because the character of Stargirl herself is so compelling, so glowingly fresh and well-drawn, we are charmed into turning each page.
- On the craft
- Story Skeleton
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Story Skeleton—The Bear Came Over the Mountain
March 14, 2022
I am sometimes asked if there is a difference in structure between the novel and the short story. There is no difference, in my opinion, except in terms of energy.
- On the craft
- Story Skeleton
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- 1 comment
Showing IS Telling, but with Style
February 07, 2022
We’ve all read novels that swallow us whole. Hours pass, and we suddenly realize it’s lunchtime and we still haven’t showered.
- On the craft
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