Yet another story of persistence paying: Kathryn Stockett, author of The Help, was rejected by forty-five agents before her bestseller found an agent home. …
Even Jack Kerouac Struggled
I recently stumbled upon this NPR story about Jack Kerouac's road to publication for On the Road. A little taste: "Legend has it that Kerouac wrote On the Road …
Summerset Maugham Rules for Writing
I saw this quote the other day, and couldn't resist sharing it: "There are only three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are." - …
Jamie Ford: Call in Sick More Often
I'm absolutely delighted to host fellow Ballantine author Jamie Ford this week. I had the great fortune to get an advanced copy of his first novel, The Hotel on …
From On Becoming a Novelist, by John Gardner
Some words of wisdom from John Gardner, whose The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers is the writing book I most often turn to. This one, though, …
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Hemingway's Advice to Writers
For a new slant in the new year right, I've decided to mix author guest posts with advice from other writers on how a writer might ... do whatever it is we do. …
If You Think Continuing to Rewrite is Wasted Time…
...take a look at the winner of this year's National Book Award for fiction: Shadow Mountain. It's a reworking of three novels previously published by Peter …
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Frances Dinkelspiel: Not So Instant Gratification
Frances Dinkelspiel is a fifth-generation Californian who spent more than 20 years in the newspaper business, writing for publications including the New York …
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Eleven Years to a Pulitzer
I was listening to NPR on the way to the grocery store this afternoon, and heard just a snippet of a fascinating City Arts and Lectures discussion with Junot …
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so I'm using my little blog to do my little bit to raise awareness. If you're 40 and haven't had your first mammogram, …
