The Chopping Blog

Filter by

Success Story with Cynthia Salaysay
April 22, 2020
One major lesson I learned in writing Private Lessons was that in order to finish it, I had to answer the questions I most avoided. Holes in characters, holes in plot, holes in setting – everything had to be answered.
- Success Stories
- Read more
Editor profile: Michelle Barker
April 21, 2020
Because I’m an author, I know what it feels like to be edited. I value an editor who is both honest and kind and who will teach me how to raise my writing to the next level.
- Read more
Query Quest: the journey toward literary representation
April 19, 2020
No one is going to take a chance on your writing—you must prove that you deserve it.
- On querying
- On the craft
- Read more
What do lit agents do?
April 17, 2020
Agents can also be coaches and champions. They've got your back in terms of the legal and business side of publishing, and they will ideally be an encouraging ally who will stick with you throughout a long career.
- On querying
- Read more
Book Broker – An interview with Carrie Plitt
April 17, 2020
A lot of writers think that they should submit to agents once they have a solid first draft, but I tell writers that they should instead think of the manuscript as ready when they can’t do any more work on it. Do multiple drafts.
- Agent interviews
- Read more
- 2 comments
Axe to Grind 2020, 1st place winner: "Keeping Watch"
April 11, 2020
Late dusk. Cicadas drone and the humid heaviness of evening is looming in. The few figures moving up and down Rawson Street are muted silhouettes. Your brother is one of those shadows creeping up and down the street. He calls your name into the darkening.
- Contest updates
- Read more
- 1 comment
Axe to Grind 2020, 2nd place winner: "Eleven for Good Measure"
April 11, 2020
Eddy counted out the pills, added one for good measure. Eleven ought to do it. Marie would be home after the late shift. If the ER was quiet, she’d beat the sunrise. It didn’t happen often, but it gave them an hour together. Baby-making time, she’d called it, only not anymore.
- Contest updates
- Read more
Axe to Grind 2020, 3rd place winner: "Status Update"
April 11, 2020

Your attacker stretches across the table, pushing the phone up to your face. A photo has been uploaded to your pending status.

Your mouth on her husband’s, both of you naked.
- Contest updates
- Read more
Slushpile Standouts: episode one
April 06, 2020
In our debut YouTube video, two Darling Axe editors read the first pages of several manuscripts and pose the question: would you turn the page?
- On the craft
- Read more
- 2 comments
Who's on mic? A primer on voice
April 04, 2020
Some may tell you that writers either have a strong voice or they don't. Perhaps it's true that some people have a natural grasp on poetics, but every aspect of the craft—voice included—can be studied, and in studying we all stand to sharpen our art.
- On the craft
- Read more
An Axe to Grind 2020—the shortlist
April 02, 2020
It was an honour to read all of your stories. And holy smokes, did we ever get a lot of submissions! The grand total is 174 entries, with 45 that rolled in on the final day, for a cumulative prize pool of $870 CAD.
- Contest updates
- Read more
Probably not your mother: on beta readers and critique partners
March 31, 2020
As a fledgling writer, it’s easy to hide in your room and convince yourself your work is brilliant. But if you want to sell it, you must come out of hiding and seek the opinion of others. It’s hard; it might hurt a little at first; but ultimately it’s worth it.
- On the craft
- Resource review
- Read more