I can hardly believe it. The first full draft of my memoir, My Mother's Money, is done. Done. Every item of information that needed to go into it is down on paper. But right now, it's mostly just information. Facts. Data. Dates. Only four or five chapters of solid narrative. I won't minimize it, … [Read more...] about After the First Draft is Done
creative writing tips
The Making of a Writer
I Had It All Wrong My early fantasies of the writing life bore no relation to reality, saturated as they were with a determined sentimentality. I must have gotten my ideas from photos I came across in which writers were always pensively portrayed in workspaces that overlooked meadows and … [Read more...] about The Making of a Writer
Bestselling Author Leigh Russell’s Advice to Aspiring Writers
Author Leigh Russell writes the bestselling series of crime thrillers featuring detective Geraldine Steel. Her novels are CUT SHORT (2009); ROAD CLOSED (2010); and DEAD END (2011). Leigh generously shares tips for aspiring writers in her guest post below. - Lynette Guest Post by Leigh Russell … [Read more...] about Bestselling Author Leigh Russell’s Advice to Aspiring Writers
When You Hate the Book You’re Writing: My Solution
So, there I was a couple of weeks ago, proudly flipping through the completed first chapters of my memoir, My Mother's Money. I had the hook, followed by a gripping scene to introduce the story's first complication. Then I plunged readers (and the main characters) into a big surprise. Chapter 4 … [Read more...] about When You Hate the Book You’re Writing: My Solution
The Mystery of Character in Memoirs – Guest Post
I’m thrilled to have Shakirah Dawud, of DeliberateInk, one of the best, most thought-provoking writers around, contribute her thoughts on memoir here. You’ll find your own conception of characters in your memoir deepened by her insights. - Lynette The Mystery of Character in Memoirs Shakirah … [Read more...] about The Mystery of Character in Memoirs – Guest Post
Don’t Submit Your Writing Yet—Please!
Whenever aspiring writers send me their "fantastic, soon-to-be-bestseller" to compliment, I cringe. They've put a ton of effort into their manuscripts. They've neglected their family and social lives—and maybe even their paying jobs—to imbue their narratives with all the talent and skill they can … [Read more...] about Don’t Submit Your Writing Yet—Please!
Show Me the Evidence
I tell my creative writing students, "Show us what your characters are feeling. If you were in court, you couldn't just say, 'He was upset.' You'd need to give evidence of that presumed state of mind. Was he waving a stick and shouting as he chased a miscreant down the block?" If you write that, … [Read more...] about Show Me the Evidence
Do You Shy Away from Writing Classes?
My niece is a stunning adult with a classic style. But, when Osula was a child, she went through a fashion phase I might call, "if-you've-got it, wear-it." The adults in her life held our breath until the stage passed. At four years old, she liked to don a polka dot skirt, paired with a wildly … [Read more...] about Do You Shy Away from Writing Classes?
Calm Down! It’s Just a Draft
I remember myself proudly, even smugly, slipping my draft into a 9” x 13” manila envelope addressed to an editor for her feedback. I expected a few corrected semi-colons. Instead, the editor wrote that my story didn’t go anywhere, and that a word I had used wasn’t even a word. I could send it back … [Read more...] about Calm Down! It’s Just a Draft