Food is a large part of most cultures and one of the main guests at any celebration. A lot of our memories of growing up involve food: the smell of a roast on a Sunday afternoon, barbecues in the summer, and special cookies made at Christmas. Food and life are tightly interwoven. Food can serve […]
writing tips
The Ideal Reader
Do you have an ideal reader? You know the one reader that you think about as you are sculpting your prose; that reader who is sitting on your shoulder as you look for the proper way to turn a phrase, or escalate a series of events? This idea has come and gone throughout my writing […]
Putting Emotion into Your Writing
When I think of emotion my mind immediately goes to visual cues. Recreating visual cues into words can be hard for new and experienced writers and like any writing it takes practice. I wanted to see how different writers tackle emotion in their writing so I asked Book-in-a-Week’s four contributors to share their perspective on […]
Establishing Boundaries
Establishing Boundaries During Writing Hours Everything is all set: laptop booted up, pen and paper at hand and a cup of coffee that is still hot. You have been waiting for this “free” time to get all those words out of your head and onto the paper. With hands poised above the keyboard, you take a […]
The Improv Lesson of “Yes, And”
A couple of years ago, I signed up for an improvisational theatre class. At the time, I spoke very quickly, fumbled over words, and often experienced deer-in-the-headlight moments. I figured improv would help me think more quickly on my feet and also help bring the spontaneity back into my life that had been long drowned […]
