“…you can almost always make something better by making it shorter…” Keith Gessen QUOTES FOR WRITERS
I once heard George Saunders tell a story about being edited at the New Yorker, where his editor kept asking him to cut a highly precise number of lines—18 lines, … Continue reading
H.G.Wells on the strongest passion of all QUOTES FOR WRITERS (and people who like quotes)
No Passion in the World Is Equal to the Passion to Alter Someone Else’s Draft H.G. Wells
8 Tips for Editing a Manuscript
Originally posted on Cindy's Notebook:
A writer/author should make the manuscript the best it can be before sending it to the publisher. This goes for both traditional published authors…
Burn down the house – Ray Bradbury Quotes for Writers (and people who like quotes)
This afternoon, burn down the house. Tomorrow, pour critical water upon the simmering coals. Time enough to think and cut and rewrite tomorrow. But today-explode-fly-apart-disintegrate! The other six or seven … Continue reading
A bitter lesson for writers – Thomas Wolfe Quotes for Writers (and people who like quotes)
What I had to face, the very bitter lesson that everyone who wants to write has got to learn, was that a thing may in itself be the finest piece … Continue reading
The clock is ticking….only four days left to enter this international writing competition
The August 31st writing competition deadline for Hysteria 2014 is approaching fast. Some writers need the adrenaline of a closing date hovering above their computer to kickstart their writing…. but if … Continue reading
On writing a first chapter
Originally posted on Kathleen McGurl:
The first chapter of a novel is so important – it’s the first thing a reader, editor or agent sees, and if they don’t like…
Dr Johnson on editing – quotes for writers (and people who like quotes)
From The Life of Samuel Johnson by James Boswell Miss Adams: “Do you think, Sir, you could make your Ramblers better?” Johnson: “Certainly I could.” Boswell: “I’ll lay a bet, … Continue reading
Safari Friday searching the web for writers and readers — a selection of some of the best from last year
Here’s a small sample of the websites and online resources I discovered in 2013. They demonstrate what a generous lot writers are – here are places you can learn your … Continue reading
Reading like a Writer – what makes editors unhappy?
Actually this week it is reading like an editor because I am looking at Dawn Laker’s critique of Empress Orchid, a historical novel by Anchee Min. Dawn is half of … Continue reading
The one paragraph every writer should cut… Quotes for Writers (and people who like quotes)
The editors I had at The New Yorker quietly helped me in peculiar, small ways. One thing they taught me was the value of cutting out the last paragraph of … Continue reading
Quotes for writers (and people who like quotes) Novelist Sally Koslow on tricking yourself into being a better writer and editor
Start keeping a list of words you tend to repeat: just, always, really, so, whatever. Print your work out more than once, changing fonts, to trick yourself into reading it … Continue reading
Everyone loves editing, dont they?
Originally posted on helencareybooks:
Everyone loves editing, don’t they? No? I’m astonished. What could be more enjoyable than giving yourself the opportunity to reread your wonderful prose and to hone…
SAFARI FRIDAY searching the web for writers and readers THE BLOOD RED PENCIL
Safari = Swahili for long journey. I am on the look out for anything accessible from a keyboard that educates, entertains, intrigues, raises a smile. Anything that helps a reader … Continue reading
