Query question
I'm in another airport... I should take and upload photos, but fortunately, I haven't the slightest idea how to do that. :) Anyway, had a thought.Or a question.Let's say you've written a great book that happens to have one of those "instant rejection" markers, but really, it's good! And you can't change whatever, because it's important, etc.Okay, specifics. I had a book that started in Russia. Well, that is, apparently, one of those Kiss of Death things I got away with because it was a long time ago. Anyway, let's say your book starts Somewhere Books Aren't Supposed to Start, or has some important plot element that is sure to antagonize in summary (but

Guest Blogging
Tomorrow we're going to use our three-minute setting lists, but for today, take a look at my post over at Ian Healy's spiffy new website. I'm talking about how Ian manages himself online, and how that helps him over the long haul. Yeah, that's right. I'm making an example of one of our comment friends. :)Theresa

NaNo's Secret Purpose
I believe National Novel Writing Month has a secret purpose. Yes, there's the stated purpose of writing fifty thousand words in thirty days. That's a great purpose, and the formal NaNo process has the collateral advantage of drawing people together into the common goal. A supportive community is never a bad thing, especially for a group such as writers who tend to work in isolation most of the time. NaNo is a welcome change from the solitude, and it's great to share the adventure.But I think there's something else, something far more profound than a number of words generated, that you can accomplish during NaNo.You can press the reset button on your entire writing pr

Training Tactics
We don't perfectly understand the way the creative subconscious operates, but we know or suspect a few things that you can use to your advantage. Keep these things in mind while you're drafting new pages, and you might make it easier on yourself to produce on command.Negatives Might Be InvisibleThere is some evidence (though it's inconclusive) that the creative subconscious doesn't respond to negative statements. Words like "not" might slip right through without registering. If you do affirmations or meditations as part of your creative ritual, make sure you phrase it positively. So,I will not get distractedwould be

Introductory clauses COMMA
Here's why introductory elements should usually be set off with a comma: When I returned home and enrolled in college for the first time I really studied hard. Question-- what was for the first time? Enrolling in Union College? Then: When I returned home and enrolled in Union College for the first timeCOMMA I really studied hard. But what if it's "for the first time I really studied hard"? Then: When I returned home and enrolled in Union CollegeCOMMA for the first time I really studied hard. I know. No matter what, it's not a great sentence. But point is-- it's pretty much