Writing a book—as so many authors from Hemingway to Twain have declared—is a solitary profession. It requires long hours of solitude and quiet contemplation. Sometimes it's lonely. But for a book to really shine—especially in today's competitive marketplace—it eventually requires the aid of others. Editors and graphic designers are at the top of that list. …
Tag: writer’s blog
A chill in the air ….
It's only hours before Christmas celebrations commence. Outside the wind is howling and the air is frigid, but the sun is shining. It feels like Christmas. An occasional burst of snow blows by, and all the trees brittled by ice are bending and swaying. It is the kind of day that inspires writers. Yesterday, as …
The verdict is in …
I love using beta readers as I’m working on a book. They are so helpful, especially to counteract the very real tunnel vision that writers get when they’ve looked at a manuscript—stared at it incessantly—for months and months and months. This time around, I had several beta readers who were quite helpful. But the chief …
Favorite beginnings, endings, and the stuff between …
I love to read and I am always drawn to beautiful writing. Most every book has something good about it, something that I can remark about. Those that don't, well, I generally don't finish reading them. But that's not often. Usually, like most savvy readers, I choose carefully, and once I get into a book, …
Continue reading Favorite beginnings, endings, and the stuff between …
A few words or more … about writing
Writing is a craft every bit as much as woodworking or painting or knitting. It requires one to learn the basic techniques and then move beyond to the nuances and subtleties. To begin to master the craft. Yet writing cannot be mastered, at least in the same way that woodworking or sewing might be mastered. …
I’ve always wanted to write a novel….
How many times have I heard this? How many times have you said it? As one who has finally done it (CAIRNAERIE), I can tell you, it's not as hard as it seems. You just put words on paper, organize them the way you like, find some honest friends willing to give you helpful feedback, …
M.K.B. GRAHAM, author of CAIRNAERIE & FLEURINGALA 