What does the gin represent in T. S. Eliot’s The Cocktail Party? How about the water? Questions like these torment students of literature. As an English major in college, I dedicated many brain cycles to analyzing figurative language in fiction: similes, metaphors, imagery, etc. Little did I know that the study of figurative language would […]
Books for Writers: Liminal Thinking
Understand Readers’ Beliefs – and Your Own We live in an increasingly divided world. Whether you’re gathering news and information from television, traditional newspapers, or online sources, chances are that you pay attention to people who share your beliefs. When we encounter people on the “other end” of our political or belief spectrum, we can […]
Readers’ Favorite Press Release: The Writer’s Process Gold Medal
For immediate release: Reader’s Favorite recognizes “The Writer’s Process” in its annual international book award contest. The Readers’ Favorite International Book Award Contest featured thousands of contestants from over a dozen countries, ranging from new independent authors to NYT best-sellers and celebrities. Readers’ Favorite is one of the largest book review and award contest sites […]
When Writing Is a Team Sport
When you think of a writer, what do you envision? Do you picture someone struggling alone in an attic, surrounded by crumpled papers, overflowing ashtrays and empty whiskey bottles? Papa Hemingway, perhaps? Or maybe you envision a cozy writing retreat, with scenic views and solitude. No matter what you imagine, it’s probably one person, working in […]
Killing Marketing: A Book Review
The title of the latest book by Joe Pulizzi and Robert Rose really grabbed my attention: Killing Marketing: How Innovative Businesses are Turning Marketing Cost into Profit. That sounds like a manifesto – and manifestos are fun. I’ve been known, on occasion, to rant about “death to the funnel” and other topics. Yet, as any student of history […]
Writers and the Planning Fallacy
You don’t want to hear this, but I need to say it anyway: Your writing project probably won’t go exactly as you plan. The book will take longer to draft than you think. You will be surprised by the length of the revision phase or magnitude of comments from editors or early readers. Your blog post […]