-
Novel Openings: Writers & Lovers
The novel Writers & Lovers by Lily King is studied to see how to write an effective opening paragraph or opening page of a novel.
-
My Favorite Books of 2022
I read 113 books over the past twelve months (Dec ‘21 through Nov ‘22). If that sounds like a lot: yes, it is, but also, roughly half of these were audiobooks, a format I enjoy while walking my dog, washing dishes, walking my dog again, bringing kids to sports practices, and walking my dog a…
-
Novel Openings: What Works
Case Study 1: Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng Ask any agent, any writer who has ever queried a novel, any editor, and, I daresay, any reader, and they’re bound to agree: a strong opening is one of the most important aspects of your novel. Readers who browse bookstores (or download samples of…
-
On the “gift” of feedback
Writers constantly receive feedback on our work. Solicited feedback from writing groups, beta readers, agents, and editors; unsolicited feedback from commenters, reviewers, or social media followers. I’ve been told (especially in my business life) that feedback is a “gift.” I used to think: there are few gifts I’m less eager to receive than this one.…
-
My favorite books of 2021
It’s been quite a year, book-lovers. We thought we’d left COVID-19 behind us in 2020 (remember that?), what with vaccines becoming available and case numbers decreasing. Instead, vaccine idiocy hesitancy + aggressive variants + inability/unwillingness to deliver vaccines to much of the rest of the world means that COVID is still on our hands for…
-
My Favorite Writing Podcasts
The best writing podcasts for emerging writers and aspiring authors, according to a new novelist who loves podcasts
-
The 100,000 Word Project
or: how I found time to write a novel, and you can too I’m one of those lifelong aspiring novelists. Ever since I read “Anne of Green Gables” as a 4th grader (and then the other seven books in the series, and then reread them, and then watched the film adaptations… you get the picture),…
-
My favorite books of 2020
I am an insatiable reader. I read every night before going to bed; while walking the dog (audiobooks, of course); on airplanes (remember those?); on a stationary bike. I read with my kids every night, too, alternating with my husband between my 5 and 8 year old sons one night, and my 10 year old…
Jill Witty, Writer 