On a recent episode of Top Chef, judge Gail Simmons commented that one of the contestants was cooking good food, but that the judges still didn’t know who he was as a chef. Gail’s observation came after this contestant had made multiple impressive dishes, many of which featured recipes he’d learned while working under other […]
Why Formula and Structure Can Only Take You So Far Read Post »
I have a love-hate relationship with word counts. (Just look at the word count of this post!) On one hand, word count guidelines offer a concrete metric in an industry that often seems to rely solely on personal taste, timing, and luck. It’s helpful for authors to know that most traditionally published picture books are
Word Count Worries Read Post »
Recently I was a guest on Alvina Ling and Grace Lin’s Book Friends Forever podcast to talk about freelance editing along with fellow freelance editor Sangeeta Mehta. Toward the end, Grace asked about giving manuscript critiques to friends, and Sangeeta mentioned the three point method for sharing feedback: Identify a problem Explain why it’s a
How to Give a Good Critique (and How to Spot a Bad One) Read Post »
A week ago, I came across a quote by Louise Glück on social media: “We look at the world once, in childhood. The rest is memory.” These are the last two lines of her poem, “Nostos.” As with many quotations I read online, I inwardly nodded and thought, “Sounds right,” before scrolling on. I’m pretty
Look at the World: On Writing and Reading Read Post »
Recently I’ve been thinking about my grandma’s bathtub. It was solid green, with a smooth surface that I loved sliding across to play tidal wave. I know I splashed water over the side often, but I don’t remember my grandma ever getting upset about it. There was a small window in the wall above the
Seven Ways to Cry about a Bathtub: On Writing Emotions Read Post »
Q: I’m working on a nonfiction manuscript. Do you have any recommended resources for nonfiction authors? A: My primary area of expertise is fiction, so I turned to one of my editor friends, Heidi Fiedler, to help answer this question. Heidi is a writer and editor who has worked on more than 300 books, many of
Ask Your Editor Friend: Nonfiction Resources Read Post »
Since I was a kid, I’ve hated the idea of being forced to choose favorites. I’ve almost always stubbornly insisted on multiple favorite colors, foods, movies, music, and especially books. It’s not (merely) that I’m indecisive; it’s that I find it impossible to choose a blanket favorite without considering the context. Am I choosing a
My Top Four Books About Writing Read Post »
“Show, Don’t Tell” is one of the most common pieces of writing advice, and for good reason. Writers have a tendency to lean on descriptive statements, or “telling,” particularly in early drafts. When you’re starting a manuscript, it can be easier and faster to describe the broad strokes of a scene, such as, “She felt
Show, Don’t Tell: Why It’s a Writing Rule & How to Break It Read Post »
Today’s letter answers a question I received from an author: Q: What are your thoughts about working on multiple projects simultaneously, either as an editor or as a writer? I always feel drawn to write two things at the same time, and then feel like I shouldn’t, and then wonder how I would make it work
Ask Your Editor Friend: Working on Multiple Projects Simultaneously Read Post »
If you’re on social media, you may already be familiar with Dr. Becky Kennedy, a clinical psychologist known for her engaging posts about common parenting struggles. After the publication of Dr. Becky’s book, Good Inside, I read an interview she did with reporter Elizabeth Holmes, and was struck by one piece of advice in particular. While talking about
Upgrade Your Creative Goals Read Post »
