Revision Category
Rejection, Acceptance, and Opportunity
Posted on October 8, 2015 1 Comment
Yesterday, I received a rejection for a creative nonfiction story that I crafted this summer. It was from a high profile and very competitive journal. But that’s okay. It’s okay because they received over 550 stories in response to their call, and I’m a writer, which means I immediately submitted that same story to four […]
The Best Writing Advice Evah!
Posted on August 26, 2015 Leave a Comment
In response to my crowdsource request for “the best writing advice you have to offer,” here are the results, with a few of my own thrown in for good measure. Because advice is always best when passed along. 🙂 1. “Revising is easier than writing. Start somewhere. Anywhere.” 2. “Ever see the film A River […]
Writing skills on the job
Posted on February 20, 2015 Leave a Comment
No matter what you do for a living, chances are extremely high that you write on the job. Did you know that companies spend over $3 billion a year helping their employees learn how to write better? That’s a lot of scratch. And just because your boss hasn’t brought in a pro like me to […]
Spice up your prose with sensory details
Posted on February 13, 2015 2 Comments
Imagine reading your favorite novel or creative nonfiction book (Cheryl Strayed’s Wild, perhaps, or Terry Tempest Williams’ Finding Beauty in a Broken World) without any sensory details. In fact, I challenge you right now. Go pick up that book that you are reading. Flip to a page, any page. Now scan carefully for any and […]
The importance of audience
Posted on February 6, 2015 Leave a Comment
When writing for publication (or just sharing), how often do you consider this question: “Who is my audience? Who is my ideal reader?” Think about who that person is, whether a friend, or a relative, or a spouse, or a co-worker. Thinking about who your ideal reader is can focus your efforts, especially if you […]
How to be a better storyteller
Posted on January 16, 2015 Leave a Comment
Writers are storytellers. No matter the medium or genre, writers work hard to craft delectable stories for public consumption. And we all know that some stories are better than others. So what differentiates a fascinating, compelling, riotous story from one that is just okay? Strong start. Emotional appeal. Logical appeal. Sensory details. Action. Scenes. Anecdotes. Moments of […]
Three seats left in my Advanced Memoir workshop this January! :)
Posted on December 11, 2014 Leave a Comment
Fellow writers! You might have seen previous posts about this workshop and now it’s crunch time. I need a few more participants to fill the workshop – three seats. I suspect that at least three of you are working on a creative nonfiction project that would benefit from this intensive workshop weekend. Â If you are […]
There is no such thing as writer’s block
Posted on December 5, 2014 2 Comments
That’s right. I said it. There is no such thing as writer’s block. When writers become stuck in their process, the usual suspect causes are procrastination, fear, doubt, lack of research, lack of brainstorming, lack of idea-brewing time, lack of purpose, anxiety (about the subject matter, a deadline, etc.), diminished passion for the existing work, […]
Amanda Morris, Ph.D. 