Writing

Write what you know. Stay in your lane. Find your niche.

On the one hand, everyone tells you to think bigger, but then they also seem to be saying the opposite: think smaller.  Read more

What's a mystery all about? The ending? Well, of course, you say-the denouement, the unraveling of the clues, the big reveal. If it's too easy to guess the ending before that very moment, or if the ending doesn't seem to mesh with the clues provided by the author you're disappointed with it. It's a lousy mystery, right?

I was reading a great interview on CrimeReads.com the other day-Paraic O'Donnell talking to Lee Child, genius author of the Jack Reacher novels-and they has this wonderful debate about the unreality of fiction. When I say it out loud, it sounds obvious, but it came up twice. And Lee said: ‘The only two real people in the transaction are the author and the reader.'  Read more

George Saunders once said, ‘when you read a short story, you come out a little more aware and a little more in love with the world around you'...but what is the best way to start?  Read more

Consider flash fiction an opportunity. Let go of your tricks and your clever exposition techniques. Let go of your need to explain. Discover what you don't need to say.

Let go of description-one perfect detail will do the trick. Let silences be potent. Don't rush to fill them.

Let go of extra words: create meaningful gaps.

Let go of the urge to linger.  Read more