Matthew Arnold Stern's Blog, page 6

Why a $22 mug is better than a $100,000 watch

My $22 mug actually exists. My $22 mug holds coffee, which is a vital part of an author’s energy policy. My $22 mug is union-made. It doesn’t come from a plant in Wyoming that also makes honey that supposedly cures erectile dysfunction. The money I spent on the $22 mug helps fund an election campaign. […]Related posts:The two ResedasPolitics: “Let’s have a good, clean fight.”“So, what did you think of Barack Obama’s speech?”

Tips on writing query letters

You just crafted a 70,000–100,000-word manuscript. Now, you must write a one-page letter to convince someone to read it. Creating a query letter is the first stressor of an already stressful submission process. But if you write an effective one that gets an agent’s or publisher’s attention, it can make the rest of the process […]Related posts:Why you should write a marketing plan before you write your bookLessons from the other side of the rejection notice45 things I learned about writing

The risks and rewards of going viral

At a recent Costco shopping run, I passed by one of those sample tables. The attendant had a large pack of Kirkland Select toilet paper. He asked me if I wanted a sample. I figured he’d give me a small packet of a few sheets, perhaps enough to blow my nose. I said, “Sure.” He […]Related posts:Bye, bye, birdie?In praise of modest goalsHow to read a religious text

Why I’m not the same person I was in 2019

This is not a political post, but it’s inspired by one. I was commenting on Dana Bash’s interview of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz on CNN, and someone replied about how her stances on issues from 2019. He wrote, “Her answer there was something like ‘my values haven’t changed’ ok cool… sp everything you said […]Related posts:1979 and 2019Back to the office as a different personIn praise of modest goals

America needs a good hard cry

We’ve probably moved on from Gus Walz’s emotional response to his dad accepting the vice presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention, but it’s still worth discussing. I wondered what was really behind the hideous response to it. I think it’s more than he’s a male, or he’s neurodivergent. It’s because we haven’t seen real […]Related posts:How to keep Grinches from stealing your joyYou have the right to be sadWhat I want for America

Why you should write from your values

Anna Daugherty, author of the upcoming novel Reaching for Grace, and I have a couple of things in common. (You can read more about her in my upcoming newsletter. Subscribe to be among the first to read it.) First, we’re published by the same press, Black Rose Writing. Second, we both believe in writing from […]Related posts:Why you should write a marketing plan before you write your book“One simple trick” to writing a great speech or story45 things I learned about writing

A shorts story

See if you can catch this trend in my stories. First, from Offline. “Shorts!” Martha blurted, “I don’t wear shorts! I have legs like tree trunks, and I don’t wear shorts!” And Amiga. I stood there wearing shorts and a t-shirt. A man I didn’t know, who had just commented on my bare legs, asked me to […]Related posts:How to write about the past60 quotes about 60 things I’ve learned in 60 years“How has your writing changed in the past 15 years?”

Why I’m voting for Kamala Harris for president

In politics, we’re often voting against instead of for something. And our choices have been based on our fears rather than our aspirations. It certainly has felt that way in this presidential election. While I feel President Biden has done an excellent job given the extraordinary challenges he faced in his term, he did the […]Related posts:If you change your mindWhat I want for AmericaPublic education – attack at your own risk

A bigger book bag

You can tell a lot about a book lover by what’s in their TBR pile. The first thing you can tell from mine is that I’ve been way behind in my reading. That’s why I joined a summer reading program at a local library so I can get through it all. On top of my […]Related posts:What makes a great review“Ask your doctor if reading is right for you.”What to read between writing projects

Only empathy can save us now

How can we be sympathetic to those who want to do us harm? It’s a question we ask ourselves in the aftermath of the assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump. I attempted to answer this question in a TikTok video about the importance of empathy. But it is a subject that needs to be […]Related posts:Writing a sympathetic character you disagree withCan you still write a sympathetic character you disagree with?Another casualty in Dallas