The first thing you need to know about writing a novel is that there are no easy answers. The second thing you need to know is that, if you’re anything like most of us, it’s going to be quite difficult. There’s no magic formula for novel-writing. Every novel demands its own structure, its own pace, its own way of looking at the world. Still with me? Good. Because, as it turns out, novel writing isn’t just a head-banging exercise in utter frustration and despair (although, trust me, sometimes it is just that). It’s also a deep swim into your...
Ephemera
Rick Santorum’s Bill of Rights for Women
Sometimes, it’s difficult to get a real sense of how candidates feel about certain issues, because they don’t want to scare away potential voters. Rick Santorum, on the other hand, has made his views on women very clear. I give you, then, Rick Santorum’s Bill of Rights for Women. Please note that while the titles are mine, all of the quotes are straight from Santorum’s lips. 1. You have the right to bear many children, whether you want to or not: One of the things I will talk about that no president has talked about before is the dangers of...
Little Children, by Tom Perotta
It took me a long time to get around to reading this book. I kept hearing the title, Little Children, bandied about, and it kept getting great reviews, but it was the title that turned me off. I knew there was a pedophile in the book; that knowledge, combined with the title, convinced me it wasn’t a book I wanted to read. (Writers: scroll down for notes on point of view.) A friend whose opinion I trust recently assured me, “No, it’s really not about that at all.” So I bought the book, and I quickly realized that the...
Best Apps for Kids 2012
I have a 7-year-old who, like most kids these days, is utterly enamored with technology. Fortunately, there are a number of learning apps that take the edge off the guilt most of us parents feel about screen time. Below you’ll find my favorite reading apps, math apps, creativity apps, and music apps for young kids. Click the icon for each app to see it on the iTunes store. BEST APPS FOR KIDS: : My 7-year-old can’t get enough of Rocket Math. Kids can choose additon, subtraction, multiplication, or division, but if they just want to shoot off the rockets...
How to Submit a Story for Publication
So you’ve written a story, revised it, and are ready to send it out. Here are a few tips for submitting your stories to literary journals. • Until recently, submitting to literary journals meant buying loads of stamps, weighing your manila envelopes at the post office, and including self-addressed, stamped envelopes. Fortunately, this is no longer the case. Most literary magazines have an online submission form, and most prefer online submissions to hard copies. • If the literary magazine asks for a cover letter with your submission, make it brief. Your letter should mention where you’ve published in the...
The international bestseller about one woman’s search for a missing child…
"Mesmerizing." ~Library Journal, starred review.
Stop dreaming, start writing!
