THIS DRAFT SUCKS
It’s the first afternoon of the Novel Incubator Alumni Writing Retreat in Jackson, NH. From my room up in the eaves, I read over the last chapter of the latest draft of my novel, attach the whole thing to an…
Category: The Writing Life
Dharma Buds: Revision Road with Buddha and the Gecko
I have just spent two-and-a-half years revising my novel.* The odds on getting it published feel, well, long. My writer friends (published and in-the-queue) tell horrific tales of editors** who do not buy the manuscript, but offer advice, “What if…
Friday Feast: Syndromes, Solitude, Psychological Comforts and More
As the holidays draw near, the days grow shorter, the nights colder, the calendars more full. Waistlines expand, and walls close in with people and conversations and music playlists that tax the ears. Draw a bath, grab some champagne or…
How to Start Building a Social Media Presence: An Interview with Crystal King
Crystal King is a 20-year marketing and communications veteran. Currently she leads social media for Keurig Green Mountain and has directed global social media programs for companies such as CA Technologies and Sybase. Crystal is also a freelance writer and Pushcart-nominated…
Personal Artifacts: Researching Your Own History
I was on the phone with my dad the other day, and just before we hung up I said, “Yalla, bye!” This was strange for a number of reasons. First, “Yalla, bye” is a weird phrase. Yalla means “let’s go”…
Searching for the Perfect Query Letter
Go Figure: Musings from the Mind of Rob Wilstein Fellow writers, I am sending out query letters for my novel and was hoping for some feedback from the community on my approach. I’d appreciate any advice as to whether what…