My old friend Algis Budrys once said to a group of young writers, “To write anything well requires a certain kind of genius.”
KamiMMcArthur - 6/17/2013
Many new authors write to me and ask about the virtues of self-publishing versus traditional publishing. They ask, which should I do?
KamiMMcArthur - 6/14/2013
Over twenty-five years ago I began editing professionally. I began by doing volunteer work as an editor for literary magazines, but my first job was for Brigham Young University, where I helped professors raise their work to publishable levels.
KamiMMcArthur - 6/12/2013
Have you ever noticed how a television or movie series can grab you at the beginning but feel tired and “old” after a few episodes?
KamiMMcArthur - 6/11/2013
As children, we’re taught to write only in complete sentences, with subjects, verbs, and objects.
KamiMMcArthur - 6/7/2013
Very often as a writer, I will find myself reading a tale by another author and saying, “My, I wish that I had her talent.” I’m sure that most of you feel the same at times.
KamiMMcArthur - 6/4/2013
Whenever you express an idea, you can look at the poetry of your language, your use of diction, your originality, and compare it to other samples of the same idea.
KamiMMcArthur - 5/31/2013
A couple of minutes ago I had an idea for a great scene for the novel I’m currently working on. I’m going to go begin writing it within the hour.
Twenty years ago, I would have taken a different tact.
KamiMMcArthur - 5/30/2013
I promised before that I would give you some exercises that you can use as you prepare to compose. One of my favorites is one that I call “Cloud Writing.”
KamiMMcArthur - 5/27/2013
Immerse yourself in your work—and stay here.
KamiMMcArthur - 5/22/2013
Most of you know that my son Ben had a longboarding accident recently and suffered a traumatic brain injury. I’m sitting in the hospital as I write this.
KamiMMcArthur - 5/20/2013
Shakespeare once said “The play is the thing.” I think that he understood that playing with words, with ideas, with characters in opposition—brainstorming as he wrote—that was the key to writing well.
KamiMMcArthur - 5/17/2013
You need to move into your fictive world slowly.
KamiMMcArthur - 5/13/2013
Today I'm going to look at how one “gets into his or her writing zone,”
KamiMMcArthur - 5/7/2013
Here are some ideas to help you increase your ability to write and to brainstorm.
KamiMMcArthur - 5/3/2013
In my posts, I prefer to concentrate on storytelling, rather than talking about the art of creating powerful prose or talk much about the business side of writing, but today I’m going to make an exception.
KamiMMcArthur - 4/29/2013
Stories aren't about characters so much as they are about growth. In other words, your characters will change and grow throughout a novel.
KamiMMcArthur - 4/25/2013
I always approach my work with great expectations. Those expectations change from piece to piece.
KamiMMcArthur - 4/22/2013
When you’re writing a tale, it almost always turns out better if you get deep into the head of your protagonist and tell the story from that person’s point of view.
KamiMMcArthur - 4/18/2013
People will judge your movies and stories regardless of how insecure you may feel about it. Sometimes their judgments will be fair and accurate, but just as often they’ll be biased, foolish, unfounded or downright deranged.
KamiMMcArthur - 4/12/2013