beyond the margins
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In Search of Ideas
Writing requires ideas. The idea might even be the most important component of a story of novel, so finding good ideas is critical. But where do they come from? At Beyond the Margins, Robin Antalek examines where she finds fresh ideas:…
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The Joy of Writing
What happens when writing ceases to be enjoyable? Over at Beyond the Margins, Dell Smith discusses how the joy of writing must eventually yield to the joy of a finished draft because while writing first drafts might be pleasurable, the…
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Between Drafts
The cycle of writing, editing, and publishing often leads to down time between drafts. Over at Beyond the Margins, Marlene Adelstein talks about not writing during the down time between submitting a finished manuscript and waiting to hear back from agents…
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Creativity Is Messy
Technically perfect writing is important when it comes to journalism or nonfiction, and especially helpful when writing with short deadlines. Fiction writing is different though. Nicole Bernier, over at Beyond the Margins, explains why grammatically sloppy writing might be the…
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How to Dress for A Book Launch
Never judge an author by her shoes. Of course, readers do judge authors on how they look, giving authors one more thing to worry about. Over at Beyond the Margins, E.B. Moore ponders what to wear to her book launch:…
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Like Writer, Like Character
Sometimes writers end up diagnosed with the very same disease they’ve inflicted on their characters. Natalie Serber knows firsthand—she received a breast cancer diagnosis halfway through creating Mona Brown, a character in her latest novel. Over at Beyond the Margins,…
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Writing in the Discomfort Zone
Traumatic experiences can elicit strong reactions from readers, but first writers must overcome the challenge of confronting the emotionally uncomfortable situation. At Beyond the Margins, Juliette Fay describes writing from her discomfort zone: I learned more about the gruesomely creative…
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The Self-Promotional Balancing Act
When does sending an email blast about an upcoming event become spam? Writers are as much publicists as they are authors, and social media hasn’t made things any easier. Over at Beyond the Margins, Randy Susan Meyers explores how much is…
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Getting Personal for Better Narratives
Personal narratives offer writers an important source of inspiration for their writing. Writers edit out the dull portions of their lives to create a version that is both interesting and representative of a kind of universal experience. Kim Triedman writes…
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Occasional Writing
The pomp and ceremony of events like weddings and anniversaries often require writers to write, whether it’s a gifted poem or the script of a wedding ceremony. Novelist and ordained Universal Life Church minister Kim Triedman explores the difficulties of…
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The Cost of Writing A Novel
Selling a book is no way to make a living. Writing a book will probably cost more than it ever earns, between lost potential wages and the emotional toll of the publishing process. Novelist Kim Triedman explains at Beyond the…
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In Defense of Adverbs
Adverbs are bad, every writer has been told, repeatedly. Use them sparingly, if at all, is the advice commonly given. But adverbs do serve a purpose, and more often it is misuse, not overuse, that unfortunately taints bad writing. Robin…