Since I'm new to the blog, I thought I'd turn the tables and ask what you're struggling with about writing. What are some questions you have? Today I sat and brainstormed possible topics for my part of the blog, and thought I'd let you help me narrow them down. Here are just a few titles of possible blogs. Which ones would you be most interested in? And what else are you grappling with right now?
Possible Blogs:
On Craft:
Characterizing from the inside out: Why I heart Laurie Halse Anderson
3 Things genre writers can learn from literary fiction (and vice-versa)
First Chapters: What We Risk When We Put it All Up Front
Why Violence Can Be Boring--and How to Handle it So it's Not
On The Writing Life:
Balance and the Writer's Life: Is it Possible to be a writer and remain sane, social and healthy?
What We Give Up to Write--and What We Shouldn't
Best day (or night) jobs for writers
If I ever make it, I still want to be nice
"A Clean, Well-lighted Place:" Why a writer's work space matters
"I'm just a girl who can't say no:" Why Saying "no" is hard for writers, and what to do about it
On MFA Programs and Formal Training:
What you'll learn from an MFA program
What an MFA won't teach you
What admissions committees look for when choosing applicants
5 things I wish I'd known before I started my program
Possible Blogs:
On Craft:
Characterizing from the inside out: Why I heart Laurie Halse Anderson
3 Things genre writers can learn from literary fiction (and vice-versa)
First Chapters: What We Risk When We Put it All Up Front
Why Violence Can Be Boring--and How to Handle it So it's Not
On The Writing Life:
Balance and the Writer's Life: Is it Possible to be a writer and remain sane, social and healthy?
What We Give Up to Write--and What We Shouldn't
Best day (or night) jobs for writers
If I ever make it, I still want to be nice
"A Clean, Well-lighted Place:" Why a writer's work space matters
"I'm just a girl who can't say no:" Why Saying "no" is hard for writers, and what to do about it
On MFA Programs and Formal Training:
What you'll learn from an MFA program
What an MFA won't teach you
What admissions committees look for when choosing applicants
5 things I wish I'd known before I started my program
Comments
Would love to hear more about MFA programs as well. I started aiming in that direction at UH but changed my mind (for fear my true writing ambitions would be stomped out) and have often wondered about the path not taken.
I'd love to see some targeted advice on short fiction craft. And do keep us posted on what you're reading on any given day!
-your old UHCL student, Dan R.
I am thinking about writing a post about researching literary agents too, since I am in the process of doing that. Would also very much like to hear the other novelists' views of this.
Thanks so much for writing!