I remember very clearly the first time someone told me I was a good writer. I was nine or ten and had to write a biography about a person I admired. I chose my grandpa, a remarkable man in so many ways that would never earn him recognition outside his family. Loyal, kind, hard-working –… Continue reading How do you know if you’re a good writer?
Tag: postaweek2011
Step into another world
This is cross-posted on The Season blog. Every keen reader knows how it feels to lose themselves in a completely different world—whether that’s JRR Tolkien’s hobbity Middle-earth, or the snappy, witty Regency England of Julia Quinn’s imagination. Isn’t escape one of the biggest reasons genre fiction is so popular? It transports us to another time… Continue reading Step into another world
4 tips to make the most of your research trip
This is the last post in a series I’ve done on visiting the real-life locations your story is set in. Last week I asked how well you thought you could write about a place you’ve never seen, and I gave nine reasons you should visit your setting if at all possible. Today I’m giving you… Continue reading 4 tips to make the most of your research trip
9 reasons to visit your real-life setting
Earlier this week, I asked how well you can describe a place you’ve never been to. In the comments, most people believed writers can describe real-life locations pretty well as long as their research is good enough. In general, I think that’s probably right. But it doesn’t all come down to research. It’s also a… Continue reading 9 reasons to visit your real-life setting
A love letter to libraries
This is cross-posted at The Season. My father was laid off when I was 11. My mom had recently quit her job to train as a teacher. Being a worrisome child, my first fear was that we’d lose our home. Mom reassured me that wouldn’t happen. My second fear was that I wouldn’t be able… Continue reading A love letter to libraries