What to do when the author who inspired Stephen King and Ridley Scott admired Hitler for his commitment to the purity of the Aryan race? I explore the topic of 20th Century speculative fiction writer H.P. Lovecraft and how to wrestle with his legacy in the 21st Century in my latest Art-Committed Life newsletter. I …
How to Be a Plotter and a Pantster: Webinar July 26, 2021
In my January newsletter I addressed the age-old either-or debate about writing style—plotting out your work before writing (plotters) or writing by the seat of your pants (pantsters)—and attempted to rebrand them as navigators and wanderers. Briefly explaining the differences between the two and confessing I’m a chronic navigator, I then touched on the benefits …
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Takeaways from a Novel Retreat, Handling Criticism, and More
Are you a subscriber to The Art-Committed Life newsletter? If not, here's what you've missed in the last two issues. Volume 2, Issue 4 features three key takeaways from a recent week-long novel retreat offered by the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Also provided is a list of key craft books recommended by retreat faculty …
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The Latest Art-Committed Life Newsletter: New Resources for Creative Writers and More
In the latest Art-Committed Life newsletter, I seek to give back to the creative community with links to creative writing resources as well as reflections on key issues in the life of a creative. You'll learn about a new online writing community featuring workshops by accomplished authors and creative writing instructors that also includes opportunities …
The Latest Art-Committed Life Newsletter: Plotter v. Pantser and More
In my latest Art-Committed life newsletter, I take a fresh approach to the stereotypical two types of creative, the "plotter" and the "pantser," including if they're really as different as we believe. I also provide great news about a fiction writer featured in a past issue, and share an update of my own creative journey. …
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Catch Up On The Art-Committed Life Newsletter!
The New Year is almost here, and I'm sure we all can't wait to put 2020 behind us. This seems a good time to remind you that if you want to keep reading insights on creativity, writing, and living an art-committed life, you'll want to sign up for the Art-Committed Life newsletter. Published approximately monthly, …
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Using All Five Senses in Your Creative Writing (and more)
We know we're supposed to show, not tell, in our fiction and creative nonfiction. You could argue a better way to put it is that we're supposed to not just show (suggesting visual description) but help the reader fully experience the moment. I explore that in the latest Art-Committed Life newsletter. The "and more" …
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Thoughts on “Writing While Black”
As more and more examples of systemic racism surface in the wake of the resurgent #BlackLivesMatter movement, a skilled writer has chronicled her own challenges as a Black fiction writer in a world largely comprised of white readers, agents, editors and publishers. Laura Warrell's "Writing While Black" in the Los Angeles Review of Books moved …
A Top Literary Agent Shares 3 Elements Your Novel Opening Must Have to Seize His Interest (and Possible Representation)
You're finally ready to start pitching literary agents for your unpublished novel. Those first few pages have to sing if you're going to hook the agent. How do you know if you're ready? Founding Partner of and Literary Agent with Folio Literary Management Jeff Kleinman recently shared three key elements he looks for in the …
7 Reasons You Shouldn’t Launch a Blog
So my telling creative writers not to launch a blog may seem a bit hypocritical, coming from someone who has blogged off and on for more than twenty years, and even taught blogging through The Loft Literary Center. I certainly don't want to kill anyone's dreams. That said, I think in 2020 most published authors …
The Artist's Road 