Category: Writing Tips

Before creating the Art of Murder mystery series, I worked primarily in poetry. Prose was a foreign territory. Even writing reviews of poetry books, which my job required, was a torment that lasted weeks—for a measly 2,000 words. "I'm a poet," I'd say to myself. "I can't write prose." Be careful what you say to … Continue reading How To Start Writing Novels

For many years I taught creative writing—poetry and short stories—at the college level. Now I write poems, novels and nonfiction essays. The suggestions below apply to all genres, including those I haven't worked in. How do I know that? Because the process of writing is remarkably similar whether you're writing a few lyric lines or … Continue reading FIVE STEPS TO IMPROVE YOUR WRITING