In the Write

“I’ve mentioned earlier in this blog my experience as a judge for last year’s National Book Awards, Young Adult panel.  It involved reading 278 novels in a short summer.  I knew I’d learn a lot about writing in the process, but was unprepared for the “hangover” effect upon my writing.  In a nutshell, the whole […]

        In 2005, Farrar, Straus & Giroux published my coming-of-age novel Full Service. Set in small town Midwest in 1965, it’s the summer when everything changes (most of have such a time) for sixteen-year-old Paul Sutton. Fresh off the farm, and from a church-going family, he takes a job at a gas […]

                                “Oh, The Places We’ll Go”            The famous Dr. Suess book by similar title is most certainly an allegory of authors and books clubs.  When I publish a new book I’m certainly “off and away” […]

Understanding personal, daily bio-rhythms is a big part of the writing process — are you a morning writer, a late-night writer, or maybe your best time is after a siesta?  But don’t ignore the impact of season on your motivation to write and even the quality of your prose. Northern writers with four distinct seasons […]

Most authors can’t resist checking their “numbers” (book rankings) on Amazon.  We do it because it’s the fastest way; sales numbers from our publishers are usually months behind.  And Amazon has been increasingly clever in cultivating authors by offering free space for author profiles.  I’ve dutifully signed on, though somewhat reluctantly, because I try to […]