Posts Tagged ‘writing’
Why does writing instruction so often suck?
Slate’s Matthew J.X. Malady offers any number of reasonable answers to this question, but I think the answer is far simpler: Writing instruction at the elementary, middle, and high school levels is taught primarily by teachers who are not writers and do not engage in writing on a regular basis. Most teachers are readers. We…
Read MoreSpeak Up tickets, dates for upcoming shows, and a writer’s workshop launch
For storytelling fans, and Speak Up supporters, some news for you today. First, tickets for our next show, Saturday, July 19 at 8:00 at Real Art Ways in Hartford, CT, are now available. You can click this link to purchase tickets or call Real Art Ways directly at 860.232.1006. Please order soon if you plan…
Read MoreI may not be an author yet, but I write like one.
I’ve published three novels since 2009. All three were sold internationally, including the most recent, Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend, which has been translated into 25 languages worldwide and is an international bestseller. All three of my novels have been optioned for television or film. My next novel, The Perfect Comeback of Caroline Jacobs, is…
Read MoreA genius author and I have something in common. I’m not quite the hack that I thought I was.
Tom Perrota, author most recently of The Leftovers (which is about to become an HBO series), is a far better writer than me, but it would seem that he and I have something in common. When it comes to choosing the settings of his novels, Perrota tends to choose the locales that he is most…
Read MoreThe majesty and utility of the Baby Mum Mum
When I’m desperately trying to squeeze out a few more sentences of my manuscript and Charlie is demanding my attention, I can always depend on a Baby Mum Mum, a tasteless rice treat, to give me the the few more minute that I need to finish. Charlie loves Baby Mum Mums. Unfortunately, he’s so damn…
Read MoreA peek into the inbox of an author
One of the goals of my future podcast, at least until my theoretical listeners redefine my goal through their input, will be to offer unpublished writers, readers, and even fellow authors a glimpse into the daily life of an author. It’s the kind of thing I would like to hear: Successful authors talking about their…
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