Matthew Arnold Stern's Blog, page 55
September 7, 2014
How to be a Writer: Lesson 3 – Write clear descriptions
To be a good writer, I had to unlearn some habits I developed when I started. One of them was how I used imagery in my writing. In high school, I was into similes and metaphors. These are typically the first tools people learn in creative writing. I was also influenced by the singer-songwriters I …
September 4, 2014
The night I protested against Joan Rivers
Although I’ve lived in the Los Angeles/Orange County area all my life, I’ve only had a few encounters with celebrities. But one night in 1982, I protested against Joan Rivers. I was heavily into politics when I was younger because I was scared about my future and angry at the world. My friend Gino and …
September 1, 2014
How to Be a Writer: Lesson 2 – Become a Keen Observer
One of my first lessons in creative writing at Reseda High School was partly a trust exercise. It took place in the horticulture area that used to be at the back of the school. We were paired with a partner. One of us was blindfolded, and the other led the blindfolded person to various plants, …
August 24, 2014
How to Be a Writer: Lesson 1 – Develop Intellectual Curiosity
Intellectual curiosity is the most important skill you can develop as a writer. When you dig for the truth, you’ll uncover information that will make your writing more informative and interesting. You can challenge established (but untrue) assumptions. People will want to read your work because they can learn something new and see things differently. …
August 19, 2014
How to Be a Writer: Introduction
I’m starting a new series that covers four key writing skills. These are skills I’ve developed over the years, and they have helped me become a better writer. If you’re starting off in writing, or if you want to improve your grades in your writing classes, this series is for you. These skills apply to …
August 14, 2014
“We all have our ghosts.”
During beta 2 of The Ghosts of Reseda High, I will post spoiler-free commentary about issues and themes I cover in the book. This is the seventh and final post of the series. Please download the beta if you haven’t done so already. If you’ve already read the book, respond to the survey by Sunday, …
August 10, 2014
In the Amazon-Hatchette dispute, the readers hold the power
Yesterday, I got a long email from Kindle Direct Publishing with the subject line “Important Kindle Request.” It was Amazon’s response to their conflict with Hatchette, which had published their own missive in response to Amazon. I could talk about what this conflict means to authors. Instead, I’d like to talk about what this means …
August 7, 2014
Why cover social issues in fiction?
During beta 2 of The Ghosts of Reseda High, I will post spoiler-free commentary about issues and themes I cover in the book. This is the sixth of the series. Please download the beta if you haven’t done so already. If you’ve already read the book, respond to the survey by Sunday, August 17. As …
July 31, 2014
When the Olympics came to the San Fernando Valley
During beta 2 of The Ghosts of Reseda High, I will post spoiler-free commentary about issues and themes I cover in the book. This is the fifth of the series. Please download the beta . If you’ve already read the book, please respond to the survey by Sunday, August 17. Thirty years ago, the Olympics …
July 27, 2014
The limits of agency
During beta 2 of The Ghosts of Reseda High, I will post spoiler-free commentary about issues and themes I cover in the book. This is the fourth of the series. Please download the beta and respond to the survey by Sunday, August 17. Agency. You probably heard this term in regards to fiction writing, but …
