Editor | Editor
Apr.07.2009
Dinner is over with and the dishes put away. The clock in the hall chimes eight. I was fortunate to get a walk in before the rain decided to come and stay, permanently it seems. A brave dash down the road, avoiding the puddles and the slush of water from passing cars. The dog is feeling better,...
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Mar.25.2009
There’s a big debate going on over at Pennwriters right now between those who have been published traditionally and those who aren’t about which writers “should” do.
The old guard insists that if you want to write novels you must get them to one of the five big houses, get the publicity machine and...
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Feb.25.2009
The title of this post is a quote from a conversation with a wonderful coach named Sharon Sayler (check out her radio show), and I think it’s the perfect description of what writing demands of us.
Someone was saying to me this week that it’s not the writing she minds, but the voice in her head that...
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Feb.15.2009
This is the beginning of the story of an autobiography, from when it was accepted ( months ago) to the time when it will be published ( some months from now). The working title is Undue Process but I have decided I don't like that anymore and am going to change it back to Excessomania. Because that...
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Jan.18.2009
The following is an excerpt from a novel I'm working on. I need fresh eyes and honest opinions. Please post your comments, and please be as candid as possible. Thank-you.
The men hooked their fingers through the chest-bones' spokes, lifting skeletons bent as slow-footed lame cattle harangued by...
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Jan.08.2009
Drenka Willen Returns! Günter Grass' Editor Hauled Back to HMH
by Leon Neyfakh
Drenka Willen was just one of many individuals—including one woman seven months pregnant and another on maternity leave—to be hastily laid off last month from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt amid budget cuts. She is, however...
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Dec.16.2008
I wrote last week about the light copyedits on my manuscript, but I neglected to mention that in addition to pointing out the corrections, my wonderful editor took the time to point out the passages she especially liked.
I can't begin to tell you how good it felt every time I came across a page...
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Nov.21.2008
Yesterday I opened an email from my editor and learned her response to the synopsis:
I have two words for you--Love. It.
Those of you who've followed my synopsis-writing journey know how overjoyed I am to get this news! The book is tentatively titled The Midwife's Confession (thus the picture....
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Oct.31.2008
I'm working on the synopsis for a new book, so I thought I'd share the process with you. I hope this is especially helpful to you newbie writers, as well as of interest to readers who'd like a peek behind the scenes.
First, a definition: a synopsis is generally a "selling tool" to show...
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Oct.08.2008
1. A Book is Judged by its Cover! Begin with a stunning and compelling cover. Search high and low for a cover that draws your reader to it. Photos of faces and/or people have natural drawing power. Check out the cover of my book. No, I don't know who the model is. But the fact that she is upside...
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