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Knowing when to end the story
Posted on December 1, 2014 Leave a Comment
Knowing when to end a creative nonfiction story can be challenging. Most writers new to the form, especially those immersed for two decades in “academic essayist” writing, will end with a “moral to the story,” or some kind of explanation about the greater lessons learned. Don’t do that. Nobody likes to read a story that […]
Writing Coach Services (you know you’re curious)
Posted on November 4, 2014 Leave a Comment
If you hate staring at the blank page or screen, perhaps you need a series of writing prompts to get you going. Maybe you have a great idea for an article, a book, an application essay, a business article, a report, or a blog project, but just can’t seem to get started. Perhaps you have […]
Words don’t bleed; cut them
Posted on October 27, 2014 Leave a Comment
Tap, tap, tap. Click, click. {Save as: My Brilliant Masterpiece in Progress}. Print. Hold. Beam. {Send to: Writing Group That Keeps Me in Check}. Wait. Fret. Wait. Phone notification: {re: My Brilliant Masterpiece in Progress.}. Open. Read. Frown. ——————————————————————— If this writing/sharing/response process rings true (and you know who you are), then you are a […]
Revision suggestions: When and how to say no
Posted on October 3, 2014 Leave a Comment
Defense and flexibility are both important in writing, especially with editors and, for academics, peer reviewers. Editors and peer reviewers are the gatekeepers. They hold the keys to our publishing potential, so many writers hesitate to question anything they say or protest even the most unreasonable request. They control what we want and the idea […]
You’re not (revising) alone
Posted on August 22, 2014 Leave a Comment
The revision process for any writing is daunting, especially when done alone. So don’t remain alone! Join or create a writing group with two friends or colleagues. It doesn’t matter if you all prefer different genres and styles and subject matter. The important aspects of a writing group are support, encouragement, and revision suggestions. Last […]
Time to revise
Posted on August 11, 2014 Leave a Comment
Writing original work is obviously the lifeblood of a writer. But that’s only one part of the equation if you want to be a published writer. Just ask my students. After teaching the genre of creative nonfiction in my Advanced Composition class for four semesters, and requiring that students not only write two pieces for […]
Amanda Morris, Ph.D. 