For me, writing a novel is like a horse race while driving a herd of cattle in the dark. Many years ago, before Negotiating With the Dead came out, I interviewed Margaret Atwood. When I asked her to tell me one thing about the book, she said: I went around Read more…
Some of the characters in my books have pottymouths. Not a lot but a few. I can’t control them. There they are, going along as nice as you please and suddenly — boof! — something off-color will emerge. I’ve tried to chastise those characters and let them know that some Read more…
Today on her stellar “Craft Talk” substack newsletter, Jami Attenberg talks, among other things, about questions writers should be asking themselves. Things like: In the past I have had students ask me if I think they should quit their day jobs and focus on their writing. It almost always feels Read more…
There was a time about a decade ago that I decided I needed cardio in my life. I wasn’t getting up hills as quickly and without effort as I had in previous years. I knew I had to do something, but I wasn’t sure what. I knew that whatever exercise Read more…