Author Archive

Do Characters Dream of Left-Justified Sheep? (Part One)

Author: | Categories: Writing, Writing Advice No comments
I had the strangest dream about you last night, my husband said. You were surrounded by wood. There were wood walls, floors. All this old furniture everywhere. Of course, a wife is keenly interested in her husband’s dreams, especially if she’s the star. But what struck me about my

Relationship Rescue! Courting Your Long-Lost Writing

Author: | Categories: Uncategorized No comments
First, a confession: I’m lousy at prioritizing fiction writing. I let everything else in my life take precedence. I even let other writing take precedence—articles, book reviews, syllabi, comments on student work, status updates, replies to all. And yet, good things have happened to the fiction I’ve written. I

My Ideal Bookshelf* (*For Today)

Author: | Categories: Uncategorized No comments
The package arrived earlier than expected, its corners sharp, its weight hardbound. I tore open the seal and inhaled its out-of-print mustiness. This was the book with all the answers. This book contained all I needed in the world right then. Giddily, I flipped through photos of crosscut saws