Qualities of Good Fiction If Your Story is Not Compelling

If your story is not compelling to the reader you should delete it and move on to one that is. Here are five questions I've…

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Starting a Novel No One Can Write That

Here's a writer's pitfall that Dan Barden warned us of recently. But he's too late. I've already seen the bottom. We read books. We devour…

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Creative Process/Craft Don’t try to be a better writer than you need to be.

I am currently in a workshop with Dan Barden. Here is one thing Dan said last week: “Don't try to be a better writer than…

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Writing Life Only Now Learning How to Write

I have started the last class of my MFA program. My last graduate writing workshop is three weeks gone. But there is a hitch. There…

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Creative Process/Craft An Interview with Fritz Merkel

My great-grandfather was Fritz Merkel of Peoria, Illinois. If you are really into mid-twentieth century duck decoys of the Midwest (and if you are, you…

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