Writing Big Feelings: Writer’s Digest Craft Article
I’ve long been fascinated and troubled by the question of how to do two separate but connected jobs as a writer:
Evoke a strong feeling within the reader (to make them cry is a kind of peak, I think).
Describe a character who is experiencing huge feelings in a way that doesn’t feel maudlin, or cheesy.
Book Tours: The Reality Vs The Dream
While I was working on my first novel, my daydreams of book publication experience mainly consisted of picturing big public events—bookstore readings and so on. In my imagination…
The Short Story Submission Process
Before you send your short story out, it has to be as perfect as you can make it. Because these pieces are short, there’s an expectation that every word is just right, that there’s a high level of detail and vividness. In novels, even great novels…
50+ Personal Essay Terms You Should Know
I teach a lot of classes on personal essay writing and find students are often a bit befuddled by the words I’m using. So I’ve created this rundown of the common lingo that relates to the art and business of writing personal essays. (NOTE: along the way I’ve tossed in terms of my own, made up by me).
2024 Oregon Writers' Residencies and Retreats
Oregon residencies and retreats for creative writers on the Oregon Coast, near Portland, and near Bend, Oregon.
2024 Best Writing Conferences
Writing conferences are professional gatherings of writers over 1-3 days. Like many other pro conferences, these meetings feature panels, socializing, and a keynote speech. I chose some of the best writing conferences available across the United States for genre diversity, years in existence, and recognition across the field.
Writing Awards and Prizes 2024
Most literary magazines have an annual award for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry — at least a hundred or more. Here are some of my favorites.
Can I Make a Living as a Writer?
The short answer is yes. The longer answer is, “It’s complicated.” It depends on what you want to write, for one thing. Some writers easily earn more than $100,000 a year, some are novelists, yes, but most write in less flashy areas like technology or education. Other writers may earn $38,000 or less. Your salary as a writer depends on several factors…
How To Promote Your Upcoming Book’s Publication: ARCs and Reviews
Book promotion for an upcoming novel, memoir, or nonfiction work starts around six months before publication. Learn how to use copies of your book to build enthusiasm for future sales.
Burying the I: How to Avoid Repeating “I” Too Much in First-person Writing
Whenever you write in first person—either for a memoir or personal essay, but also with fiction—the narrator will tend to become the subject of every sentence, which can start to be tiresome. Learn techniques for disrupting this pattern.