2012 proved to be a difficult year for many of us, and we’re sorry to have to begin 2013 on such a sad note. Circumstances beyond our control have caused us to cancel the Catholic Writers Conference Online, which was scheduled for March 4-15. It was a combination of several […]
Your book’s title: don’t lose sleep over it
by Connie Clark I was reluctant to post this. Like all of us who are still reeling from last Friday’s events, I’m uncomfortable with the notion of business as usual today. But early Saturday morning as I meditated on the Joyful Mysteries, especially the prophet Simeon’s words to Mary, “And […]
Mind Taffy
If it’s constantly on your mind, it’s probably not getting done! Action has a clarity about it that cuts through the fog of daydreaming. I’ve noticed that vague dreaming about ideas is helpful to a point, and then becomes quite stressful as I attempt to hold more and more action […]
Query Letters – How to write a good one
You’ve just typed The End on your manuscript, your gloriously awesome book that’s going to rocket to the top of the New York Times best seller list! Editors are going to line up at your door, fighting to be the one privileged enough to publish your work. Thousands of people […]
Gotcha! Hooks: What They Are and How to Create Page-Turning Fiction
What’s a hook??? I admit to scratching my head over that term, and for a much-too-long time. I would hear it when people were discussing top-selling novels; I’d see it in articles about the craft of writing. It was a frequent comment from my critique partners. “Not much of hook […]
Tag! You’re It! Writing Dialogue in Fiction
“Hi, Beth,” waved Justin. “Why, Justin, I haven’t seen you since our high school prom six years ago, the one where our mutual friend, Erik, got suspended for spiking the punch,” gushed Beth. “Ho, ho,” chortled Justin. “Those were the days! He went on to become a successful, if whacky […]
Ms. Manners Goes to Conference! Conference Etiquette for a Better Experience
Headed for Catholic Writers Conference? Are you excited? You should be! What an opportunity to rub shoulders with industry professionals, to put faces and personalities to folks you’ve met online, to renew friendships, and to network. This is a once in a lifetime experience; make the most of it. There […]
Art and Faith, as They Intersect in Writing
We recently observed the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Fortnight of Freedom, and this might be a good time to look at writing as an expression of our journey and expression of faith. Regular readers of this blog are most likely members of Catholic Writers Guild – which means […]
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 […]
Critique – Tips on how to do it well
Critique – a word that often scatters writers like a firecracker tossed into a flock of sparrows! But it doesn’t have to be that way. Since critique groups are forming in the Catholic Writers Guild forums, this is a good time to talk about critique, namely, how to be a […]