Although we live in a post-Freudian, post-humanist, postmodern, post-everything age, there are still plenty of unthinkable thoughts around …. Any story may draw its source of power from an unthinkable thought.
In “Digging the Subterranean,” the second essay in his The Art of Subtext: Beyond Plot, Charles Baxter explores the ways in which getting what we [...]
To follow up on what Laurel Yourke said in yesterday’s post, I’d like to share my experiences in finding a critique group that helped me improve my writing.
I didn’t have good luck with critique groups until I found a facilitated group. The groups I tried were either complete validation-fests, regardless of actual quality of work, [...]
In the first post in this series featuring my interview with Laurel Yourke, poet, novelist and nonfiction writer, and a writing instructor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Division of Continuing Studies, we discuss resistance to critique, and the most common mistakes Laurel sees among beginners (telling instead of showing) and more experienced writers (maintaining momentum [...]
In the first post in this series featuring my interview with Laurel Yourke, poet, novelist and nonfiction writer, and a writing instructor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Division of Continuing Studies, we discuss resistance to critique, and the most common mistakes Laurel sees among beginners (telling instead of showing) and more experienced writers (maintaining momentum [...]
Laurel Yourke is a successful writer in her own right, which makes her commitment to teaching a particular boon to those of us who have had the opportunity to work with her through the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Division of Continuing Studies. Here, Laurel shares her insights on the most common errors she sees from fiction [...]
Staging, you might argue,
is the poetry of action and setting
when it evokes the otherwise unstated.
Charles Baxter, from The Art of Subtext: Beyond Plot
This may be the most succinct statement I’ve ever encountered of the purpose and power of stage business in fiction. I’ll be sticking a Post-It to my computer screen as I sit down [...]
The Art of Subtext: Beyond Plot, by Charles Baxter. Since plot is my weak point, I asked for this book for Christmas, and have been waiting to read it until normal schedules resumed this Monday. I’ve only gotten as far as the introduction, but can’t wait to dive in.
The Illiad, by Homer. My 12-year-old son [...]
Free is good, especially in the financially precarious field of writing. So I thought I’d point out a few freebies for writers, starting with The Writer’s Almanac. Every morning, The Writer’s Almanac arrives in my e-mail inbox, and it’s a great way to get inspired for the day. It includes a poem, literary birthdays and [...]
You don’t have to be a writer.
Keeping a journal, the practice of writing down what’s on your mind (could be dreams, could be the view of your back yard, could be childhood memories or conversations from last night) is for anyone. Not just someone who wants to be “a [...]
Journaling can risk navel gazing. It can become repetitive. Having a focus outside of ourselves aids new perspective and allows more air onto the page.
We occasionally overlook the moon, our city lights are becoming so bright. The stars have almost disappeared for many of us. Foreign and familiar, constant and ever changing, the moon is [...]