Columns

Storyville: Hate From Love—Complex Emotions in Characterization

August 25th, 2022

Here’s something you may not have thought about before. In order to hate, you must first love. If you want to write complex characters, then you need to have a range of emotions on display. And when I think back to my own personal belief system, my “religion”—it’s based on kindness, honesty, and respect. Out of THAT comes love. And the only way to truly get to hatred is to care about something, to love it first. You must build it up before you tear it down. Let’s explore this concept a bit, in greater detail.

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What I Learned at Residency — How to Believe In Myself Again

August 23rd, 2022

In July, I trekked up north to Montpelier, Vermont, where I spent 10 days on the campus of the Vermont College of Fine Arts for their Writing for Children and Young Adults residency. It was my second residency, but the first I attended in-person, and something about those 10 days lit up a spark in my soul I didn’t realize I still had. There are so many things I loved about this residency that I’m almost at a loss for where to start talking about it! Almost, but not quite.

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How Creatives Can Get Along With Business Types

August 22nd, 2022

When you write for you, you can write whatever the fuck you want, however the fuck you want, and whenever the fuck you want. When you publish, or when you apply to an MFA program, you apply for a residency, or you take on a writing gig for hire, or you work to adapt a book for the screen—with all that stuff, you have to do your thing, and you have to get along with business types while you do it. It doesn’t have to be a horrible, painful experience, though. It can be rewarding, and it can work out to everyone’s benefit.

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10 Authors You Should Be Reading Right Now

August 18th, 2022

Here are ten authors you should be reading right now. (I’ll link to stories when I can.) I could have made a list of 100, but these are ten that have stayed with me and influenced my writing, and continue to hold my attention story after story, novel after novel, year after year. Who would you add to the list?

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A Nonfiction Roundup Both Wondrous and Beautiful

August 17th, 2022

Look, I have things to say about my experience consuming four nonfiction books this last month: The Great Indoorsman by Andrew Farkas, Dear Damage by Ashley Marie Farmer, XO by Sara Rauch and Dream Pop Origami by Jackson Bliss. And I will start by saying this:

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Story Development for Pantsers

August 16th, 2022

Original image by Hamed darzi via Unsplash You’re either a pantser or a plotter. You have to pick one, according to the conventional wisdom of modern writing. The term "pantser" comes from the idea of “flying by the seat of your pants.” It describes a writer who starts with minimal story or character detail—no formal outline, nothing written down—who just makes things up as they go. A plotter is the opposite.

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Alan Moore's Incredibly Underrated Writing Guide

August 15th, 2022

Writing Down The Bones, Bird By Bird, The Elements of Style, and On Writing: the Mount Rushmore of “How to write books.” Alan Moore’s Writing For Comics isn’t up there. Why? Is it because he's English? Writing For Comics belongs up there with the greats. It’s thoughtful, it’s a quick read, and holy shit, it’ll save you a ton of time and heartache as a beginning writer. The advice is practical and it's easy to apply yourself.

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Dear Writers: Stop Trying To Build A 'Brand' Or A 'Platform'

August 11th, 2022

It's common for writers who are starting out to wonder how they can build a brand or a platform for themselves.  Supposedly this will get them noticed by agents and editors. It'll help them grow their follower count so they're ready for their eventual book deal. It's the first step in building a reader base and a career.  It's also a bunch of bullshit. 

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I Fell In Love With Reading My Work Out Loud - To Others

August 11th, 2022

About a month ago I was at my second grad school residency (the first to be in-person). Before going I’d made a goal to read my work aloud at every opportunity; and so over the course of 10 days in Vermont, I read the opening to a first draft of a YA novel on two separate occasions; read a very personal poem about depression; read some poems from my senior year of high school; and read work that I’d created over the course of the residency itself.

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How Do You Choose the Best Conventions and Writers Retreats?

August 8th, 2022

Header image via E. Hebishy As conventions return to normal schedules, there are a lot to choose from, whether you are a writer, reader, fan, or reviewer. Depending on your goals, the best conventions for you may differ from someone else, but generally speaking a “good” convention is one that delivers for all parties involved.

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