Writers benefit from critique groups in a multitude of ways as writers will learn when my friend Becky Levine's new book -- The Writing and Critique Group Survival Guide -- is released by Writers Digest early next year.Personally, I've found critique groups a helpful place to:Connect with like-minded peopleLearn more about my own individual writing strengths and weaknesses, both from feedback on my own pieces and just as dramatically, if not more so, from giving feedback to others in the group …
Literary Fiction and Plot
A writer requests help for her character-driven, literary masterpiece and then spends our time together moaning fears of how the use of plot corrupts her literary pursuit. She worries what the professors in her graduate program will say. Having just finished reading two award-winning literary novels: The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery and Run by Ann Patchett in quick succession, I wonder how many literary novels the writer in question has read. She is confused about what plot really …
First Draft versus Rewrites
I twittered recently about how at first writers often give their full attention to one plotline alone. Subsequent rewrites, we are able to multitask.The plot line that first comes to a writer generally reflects the writer's strength and preference. This particular writer gives great thought to the action plot line -- outer plot -- and to the romantic plot line -- romance plot (not necessary in every book, though this particular writer is a romance writer, so... Also, because romance fiction is …
First Draft Blues
Today's post is similar to the last post as far as information goes but revolves around one specific writer's dilemma (2-hour plot consultation occurred earlier in the year). Thought it might be helpful to others.Question: ...Wishing you a wonderful summer. It`s like hell in Southern Norway, a three week heatwave is just about to drain all energy from nearly everybody, but I guess we`ll survive. Hope all is well with you. I`m having trouble finishing my book, don`t know how to continue to the …
Starting a Story Too Early
Remember, just because you write a scene does not mean the scene belongs in your story. We often write twice as many scenes as will ultimately end up in the finished novel, memoir, short story, screenplay. Still, every single word and line and scene you write is invaluable to you as a writer because in writing, you:Expand your writing skillsDeepen your writer's voiceAnd most of all, the more scenes you write, the more you learn about: The characters in your storyNo writing you do is a waste of …
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