The issue of honesty in Catholic fiction is one that has been weighing on my mind quite a bit lately. I don’t have a definitive answer, but I am hoping in this blog post to somehow promote a conversation. Why do we write Catholic fiction (as opposed to another type […]
Work in Progress – Adventures in Outlining
On previous projects, I’ve simply sat down and wrote, and wrote, and wrote, and wrote some more. I did them National Novel Writing Month style (regardless of what time of year it was). I would start with a general idea of what I wanted to write about and a vague […]
Writing Old-School Style
It all started with an article in The Wall Street Journal about writing using the “old fashioned” tools of pen and paper: The Powers That Flow from a Pen. Writer Paul Theroux argues that in writing by hand, more of who one is gets into the work, that there is […]
Should You Go For an MFA?
Something about cap and gown season always makes me think about going back to school. Going to graduate school can be a wonderful experience. I earned a masters degree in theology several years ago, attending school part-time while working full-time, and loved almost every minute of it. Graduate school allows […]
Have You Thought About Writing a Screenplay?
Have you ever thought about writing one of your own stories as a screenplay, or perhaps adapting another story that you love? Movies can reach audiences that books never do and can be a way to share our Catholic faith and literature in a different way. The recent success of […]
What is the Theme of Your Story?
Searching for inspiration for my own writing (we never stop learning!) as well as ideas for this column, I recently picked up The Craft of Novel Writing by Dianne Doubtfire at a local library. It was originally written in the 1970s, so some of the advice has certainly changed. After […]
Are There Too Many Books?
I read something recently (I’m not sure where) about all the people who are out there writing books now. I know when I look at Barnes and Noble, I get overwhelmed simply by all the titles that line shelves, and I realize that is only a small fraction of the […]
Interview Your Characters
Some characters seem to come to fiction writers fully formed. Others are mere shells that need a lot of fleshing out. For characters that you are having difficulty developing, consider giving them an interview. Imagine this. You are hiring this character for a job, or even better, taking him out […]
Working with the Seasonal Rhythms of Life
In general, I am not a fan of January. I live in New England where it is cold and lacks sunlight this time of year. Even with my full-spectrum lightbulbs permanently installed to help relieve the seasonal depression, it is always a struggle to have a positive outlook on life […]
The Value of 15 Minutes a Day
With the holiday season upon us, the time crunch is even worse than usual. Finding time to write can be even more of a challenge. But, it is important to remember that even small blocks of time can add up. I’ve been reading Pen on Fire: A Busy Woman’s Guide […]