Category for all my writer-related stuff
Fellow Cajun Sushi Hamster Tobias Buckell decided to host a writing workshop at the college where he worked. He invited an editor to lead it and got six or so aspiring authors like myself to attend. I was the only girl, which made me very nervous. I submitted a story I’d Read more
I was hosting my monthly writer’s workshop, The Cajun Sushi Hamsters, in my first “real” post-college apartment. I was in the tiny kitchen, and so was Hugo-winner Maureen McHugh. Geoff Landis, who also has won Hugos, joined us. As always happens, once you get a few people in the kitchen, Read more
Working on the write-a-thon I find myself approaching my laptop with much the same dread as a dentist’s drill. Do I gotta? Yes, young lady. You made a commitment. Now write! What happened? When I was a kid, you couldn’t stop me from writing! I filled entire spiral notebooks while Read more
For the 2015 Clarion Write-a-Thon I have pledged to write 50 stories by August 1. I’ve written 17 short story drafts so far. Here they are, in order: 1. The 7th Street Matriarchy – 1,700 words – a group of women trying to save their public housing project with distributed Read more
So, why did I whine about my low self-esteem on a writing blog? Because of this: Low self-esteem destroys stories. Say you have an idea – a brilliant, simple idea. (It could also be a piece of crap, but for this exercise it is brilliant and simple.) I’m going to Read more
Why isn’t writing fun anymore? I asked in a previous post, and there was a simple answer. So: how to make it fun again? I can’t forget all the knowledge that makes me self-critical and slow to write. 1. Admit it’s not always fun. (I know, not what you wanted Read more
“You aren’t bleeding in this,” my Clarion instructor said, holding up his print-out of my story. “I want to see you write something close to the bone, something that bleeds.” After I finished crying inside because I was a failure, I thought, “What does that MEAN??” “Okay,” I said to Read more