In a biography of the Russian writer Ivan Turgenev by V.S. Pritchett, I came across these two sentences about the writing of Turgenev’s novel Rudin. “The first draft of Rudin was written in seven weeks. The manuscript was later rewritten, after severe criticism by his friends.” Hah! That made me smile, because the first sentence […]
In Praise of Beta Readers by Rich Chiappone Read More »
If you don’t have enough time or focus to write—who does?—read this. Do you have a “portable process?” That’s what prolific author Juliana Baggott calls it. Funny how the right label helps. Her advice resonates with something I’ve done on and off for years but underutilized until I made the process more deliberate. “Portable process”
Writing When You’re Not Writing by Andromeda Romano-Lax Read More »
Finding a best reader can be like finding a mentor. They may be out there somewhere in the universe, someone who can not only help your writing, but can change your life. But how do we find this someone? Three years ago, late September 2021, I had time off between attending a family wedding near
A Best Reader by Ken Waldman Read More »
Phoenix Butterfly I always felt invisible, with no color or spark. What did I have to offer? What was there to see in me? Unable to see my colors in the dark. Then I learned to see, thru the love of me; All the things that I could be. Embracing my colors, aiming for the
Spotlight on New Books: Phoenix Butterfly – Path to Authenticity by Sue Lynn Wood Read More »
“Mnemosyne, one must admit, has shown herself to be a very careless girl.” Vladimir Nabokov How many times have you criticized yourself for forgetting something? For me, it was the theme of my summer, as I returned to an unfinished memoir manuscript and found all the places where I would love to write more vivid
Unfairly Maligned Memory By Andromeda Romano-Lax Read More »
Nature can fool us. Or more likely, we fool ourselves. We can think that because the vista is stunning, the bay serene, because an eagle is perched close enough to see or even to capture in our digital hands that we have understood it with a panoramic sweep, or for some, with a box ticked.
Reflections on the Tutka Bay Writers Retreat by Kitty Berner Read More »
I once went on a gal-pal horseback-riding weekend inside Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve. If you know me, you know how exceptional that is. Our fly-in camp destination was Horsfeld, and I, who fear horses and their hooves and muscle mass and their propensity for discharging me from the saddle, went along only because
Stay on That Horse by Tricia Brown Read More »
I’ve been known to give advice to writers—maybe too much of it! But it occurs to me that my best advice falls under the category “Do as I say, not as I do.” Read my top seven suggestions and consider sharing examples from your writing life in the comments below. #1. Start writing your acknowledgements
Do As I Say, Not As I Do by Andromeda Romano-Lax Read More »
“The second I step up onto the tundra bench I realize my mistake. I forgot to shout, ‘Hey bear!’ like I normally do when beaching the raft, to avoid nasty surprises. Right now, this slip of attention could get me killed. Not 20 yards away, a grizzly stands up in the grass, fixing me in
Spotlight on New Books: What the River Knows by Michael Engelhard Read More »
Victor Hugo used to start his writing day by taking off his clothes and handing them to his valet, who wasn’t supposed to give them back until Hugo had finished his day’s work. That’s how the story goes, anyway. Now, some of that story may not make perfect sense—um, didn’t Victor Hugo have another set
Carrots and Stickks by Andromeda Romano-Lax Read More »
