Craft Lessons from Sad Songs
What is it about sad songs that makes us crave them? Do we want to be sadder? Are we trying to prolong the pain? Or, just maybe, is there a glint of healing in sharing someone else’s sadness?
Craft
The Writer's Life
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All writers need to thrive: craft,
business, personal finance, and joy.
business, personal finance, and joy.
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Gritty Travel, Persistence, and Writing Old Memories
Read or watch my conversation with Pam Mandel, author of the travel memoir The Same River Twice.
Getting Back Up After A Creative Setback
I was standing on a rock in a yard in Colombia, trying to find good reception. My friend, a novelist, was on the phone, and
5 Ideas to Cling to as Writer Living in a Pandemic
“How’s your humanity?” That’s the question we focused on when I recently had the pleasure of joining Courtney Maum and Parneshia Jones in conversation as
Now Might Be a Good Time for Those Semesters of Black Lit
“White privilege is your history being taught as a core class and mine being taught as an elective.” – Ozy Aloziem Since 2011 and until
How to Find the Right Lit Mag for You
Every writer should be reading both the best and the most accessible literary magazines. Here’s how.
How to Stuff As Much Meaning in Your Verbs As Possible
How to relay an entire simile with a verb packed with meaning.
Writers Get Wild: Creating Your Own Self-Run Writing Retreat
My rent is $350 for the next three months, and I can’t tell whether it’s that or the physical space around me, trees instead of
10 Things I’ve Learned in 10 Years of Writing the Personal Essay
From my first essay nearly published a decade ago to the viral essay that got a million readers to the little goof essays I write now, here are 10 things I’ve learned about writing powerful personal essays
Why I’m Learning Grammar: Grammar Foundations Class Review
My coaching student scoffed. “Why are you learning grammar?” A part of me was with her, scoffing at grammar that meant memorizing latinate words. Grammar that
5 Ways to Write The Cliché Experience Fresh
I’m looking up Narratively’s instructions on how to pitch, and I see this from their editor, Lilly Dancyger: “In case you’re wondering, here are some
Everything a Writer Needs to Thrive: Craft, Business Skills, Personal Finance, & Joy
When I decided to start a blog as a follow-up to my book Welcome to the Writer’s Life, I knew I needed to focus. Who
10 Office Supplies Every Writer Needs at Home
I don’t know why it took me so long to realize I could buy things for my home that I’d only used in offices or
How To Compost Artistic Envy Into Inspiration
I am feeling feelings about Kristen Arnett’s book, Mostly Dead Things, an absolutely fabulous and hilarious novel set in Florida. Psst: This site uses affiliate