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A Writer's Moment: Reading sets your writing pace

A Writer's Moment: Reading sets your writing pace: “Reading is probably what leads most writers to writing.” – Richard Ford Ford is a novelist and short story writer, best-known for T...

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Published on February 16, 2023 07:32

Reading sets your writing pace

“Reading is probably what leads most writers to writing.” – Richard Ford
Ford is a novelist and short story writer, best-known for The Sportswriterand its sequels, Independence Day (winner of both the Pulitzer Prize and The PEN/Faulkner Award), The Lay of the Land and Let Me Be Frank with You, a Pulitzer Prize finalist.

A native Mississippian born on this date in 1944, Ford also wrote the terrific short story collection Rock Springs, which has been widely anthologized. Mostly set in Montana, it includes some of his most popular stories and cemented his reputation as one of the finest writers of his generation.
Ford struggled with dyslexia in his growing up years and didn’t get seriously interested in reading literature until his college days at Michigan State. He has stated in interviews that his dyslexia may, however, have helped him as a reader and then in becoming a writer, forcing him to approach books at a slow and thoughtful pace.
He earned a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from California-Irvine where he was taught by both Oakley Hall and E.L. Doctorow. He said he owes a tremendous debt to both for helping develop his writing skills. A fine editor, too, he has been widely sought after to do editing work and has edited many award-winning works.

He has just released another novel, Be Mine, featuring sportswriter Frank Bascombe. “Happiness for me,” Ford said, “is getting to write about the most important things I know.”

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Published on February 16, 2023 05:48

A Writer's Moment: 'Like a very complex game'

A Writer's Moment: 'Like a very complex game': In a crazy way, writing is a lot like any kind of very complex game - like chess, where you have the knowledge as you're composing al...

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Published on February 15, 2023 05:48

'Like a very complex game'

In a crazy way, writing is a lot like any kind of very complex game - like chess, where you have the knowledge as you're composing all of the ramifications of each move, of each choice you make. – Adam Ross
Born in New York City on this date in 1967, Ross is a novelist and short story writer whose novel, Mr. Peanut, was named a New York Times Notable Book and won him numerous other writing awards. An intricate murder mystery, the book has been translated into 16 languages.
Ross grew up with an equal love for athletics and acting, winning a state wrtestling championship while also appearing in several movies and television commercials. His pathway into writing began as an undergrad at Vassar College and grew while pursuing his MFA at the University of Washington. In addition to his creative writing, he has been a frequent

contributor to newspapers and magazines, including The Wall Street Journal, The Daily Beast and The Nashville Scene. His short stories have appeared in The Carolina Quarterly.
“I think that if you have a knack for storytelling, and you work really hard at it, you'll have a chance to tap into something deep,” he said. “But the fact remains that good sentences are hard won. Any writer worth a lick knows constructing a sentence, a paragraph, or a chapter is hard work.”

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Published on February 15, 2023 05:47

Writing 'because you have to'

“The best books come from someplace inside. You don't write because you want to, but because you have to.” – Judy Blume

Blume turned 85 on Sunday but her writing remain forever young. Her novels for teens and tweens have tackled sensitive topics and been a source of controversy, but there’s little doubt that they resonate with young people. To date they have had sales of some 100 million copies and been translated into 32 languages.

She said she hopes that her stories have opened the doors to teens for a better understanding of themselves, the world around them, and issues that young people struggle with “growing up.” Racism, divorce, bullying, sexuality, all have all been “on the table” for Blume’s characters. “Generating discussion,” she said, is her primary goal.

Blume said she dreamed of being lots of things as a girl, but never a writer. She loved to read but didn’t picture herself as the person who would sit down and write the words that others would enjoy. Now recognized as one of the world’s great “storytellers,” she said. “Any book that gets kids to read are books that we should cherish, we should be thankful for them.”

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Published on February 14, 2023 06:27

A Writer's Moment: Writing 'because you have to'

A Writer's Moment: Writing 'because you have to': “The best books come from someplace inside. You don't write because you want to, but because you have to.” – Jud...

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Published on February 14, 2023 06:27

A 'never a dull moment' writing style

“I think about my audience when I write, to some extent. Thinking of writing for young adults, I try to keep the stories moving, never a dull moment, to hold their interest.” – William Sleator
Born on this date in 1945, William Warner Sleator III wrote science fiction for young adults and children. Per his comment above, his highly entertaining books typically follow a “rapid fire” style – a technique that most young readers love but critics sometimes blasted. Despite that, most critics (and readers) love his stylish, often darkly comic prose and deliciously strange characters. Working in a genre that straddled fantasy, science fiction, horror and suspense, Sleator (pronounced “Slater”) wrote more than 30 books before his death in 2011. Born in Maryland and raised in Missouri, he was the son of a scientist and a doctor. Sleator often liked to intertwine

elements of theoretical science into his works, pitting his young heroes and heroines against some sort of peculiar phenomenon in the process.
Sleator liked the theme of family relationships and close friendships in his writing. “My stories,” he wrote, “develop from both things I read and from my own experiences; and the experiences of people I know.”

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Published on February 13, 2023 05:37

A Writer's Moment: A 'never a dull moment' writing style

A Writer's Moment: A 'never a dull moment' writing style: “I think about my audience when I write, to some extent. Thinking of writing for young adults, I try to keep the stories moving, never a ...

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Published on February 13, 2023 05:37

'Writing, Publishing - two separate things'

“I always tell students that writing a poem and publishing it are two quite separate things, and you should write what you have to write, and if you're afraid it's going to upset someone, don't publish it.”– Wendy Cope

British author Cope, born in 1945, has attracted a popular following with her lighthearted poetry, as well as achieving literary credibility by winning two major writing awards. She has a keen eye for everyday, mundane aspects of life, especially the desires, frustrations, hopes, confusions and emotions in intimate relationships. A much sought-after presenter at workshops and classrooms, she writes for – and speaks – to both children and adult audiences. For Saturday’s Poem and in honor of this coming Tuesday, here is Cope’s,

Valentine

My heart has made its mind up

And I’m afraid it’s you.

Whatever you’ve got lined up

My heart has made its mind up

And if you can’t be signed up

This year, next year will do.

My heart has made its mind up

And I’m afraid it’s you.

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Published on February 11, 2023 07:19

A Writer's Moment: 'Writing, Publishing - two separate things'

A Writer's Moment: 'Writing, Publishing - two separate things': “I always tell students that writing a poem and publishing it are two quite separate things, and you should write what you have to write,...

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Published on February 11, 2023 07:19