“Everyone [attending the retreat] wanted the same thing: to be reminded of what it felt like to be pulled toward his or her work, and to be unable to resist.” ~Mark Salzman, author of The Man in the Empty Boat By Brian Kaufman I’ve talked to writers who entertain the fantasy of writing a novelContinue reading “REASONS WHY WRITER’S RETREATS ARE BETTER THAN PRISON“
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Are You Living in A Novel?
By David E. Sharp Among my early writings was a theatrical production about an evening of fine dining gone horribly wrong. Faux pas are made. The kitchen catches fire. A food critic dies. Twice. You get the idea. We staged it in a restaurant with no stage. The audience simply enjoyed it from a uniqueContinue reading “Are You Living in A Novel?”
Craft Books: The Fine Dining Experience
By Shelley Widhalm Reading fiction is like having a sweet chocolatey snack, but reading and writing books is the main course, the wine and dessert combined. And if you haven’t heard it by now, reading all of the books is one of the foundational ways of improving your writing mind. If reading fiction is theContinue reading “Craft Books: The Fine Dining Experience”
A Story about Stories
By Brian Kaufman I would argue that almost every story idea has already been told. The secret to originality is two-fold. First, make the story truly yours (there being only one of you). And second, layer the thing until unpacking it is like separating strands of angel hair pasta. It helps to be a littleContinue reading “A Story about Stories”
The Fine Line of Writing Historical
By Brian Kaufman Though I write in multiple genres, I tend to circle back to one genre in particular. Three of my published novels are historical fiction. My first novel, The Breach, told the Alamo’s story from the Mexican point of view. That book took me three years to research, two years to write, and anotherContinue reading “The Fine Line of Writing Historical”
Writing Writing Writing, Wait . . . What?
By JC Lynne Caution: Shameless plugs ahead. I don’t know about you, but the deeper we get into 2020, the more I feel like we’re living in a dystopian novel. An overwritten, overly dramatic, dystopian novel.
Beginnings And Endings: Revamped
For writers, our beginnings tend to capture the big picture. Though the minutiae is important as well.
ADVICE FOR THE YOUNG WRITER
BY BRIAN KAUFMAN Originally posted May 14, 2020 When I was twelve years old, I wrote an adventure story about school kids trapped on an island, thwarting a plot to take over the world. My English teacher had me read the story to the class. I decided then that if I didn’t play centerfield forContinue reading “ADVICE FOR THE YOUNG WRITER”
PANDEMIC READING LIST
BY ELEANOR SHELTON Originally posted April 23, 2020 I wonder … during a pandemic when we are quarantined, what do we gravitate toward to read? Is it time for a view of the human condition that pokes fun like Where’d You Go, Bernadette? Or the quirky essays of David Sedaris? Or how many of usContinue reading “PANDEMIC READING LIST”
Poking A Wound
By Brian Kaufman Originally posted March 26, 2020 I attended Colorado State University at the turn of the century (sounds so long ago when I phrase it that way), studying English Literature and Creative Writing. I had already published poetry, but wanted to hone my skills, so I took a senior workshop course under theContinue reading “Poking A Wound”
The Writing Bug 