reading like a writer

Great news, and more time to write on the horizon!

I’m pleased to share that I am a recipient of a 2021 City of Ottawa Creation and Production Fund for Professional Artists grant! I’ll be using it to draft a middle grade novel in the Fall. In the meantime I’m working my way through this stack of books, reading and brainstorming. Thanks, City of Ottawa!… Read more »

Reading like a Writer – Part 3

Here’s another example of reading like a writer. I was reading Quaking by Kathryn Erskine, and I got to a scene where there protagonist, Matt, cowers in the presence of a bully (“the Rat”): The quaking begins. I look down at my notes. World Civilization is trembling in my hands. Do not make eye contact!… Read more »

Reading like a Writer – Long Sentences and Juxtaposition

I am fascinated by the ways in which writers evoke emotion in their readers. I know from my own reading that I am unlikely to be deeply moved by a character who goes on and on about their sad plight, their glorious discovery, the enraging injustice that has befallen them. Or, worse yet, a narrator… Read more »

Reading like a Writer

I’m sure you’ve heard one or both of these before: If you want to be a writer, you need to write. Writers write.* You may even be familiar with what Malcolm Gladwell reported in his book, Outliers: in order to become successful at something you need to clock 10,000 hours doing it. It’s a no-brainer… Read more »