As all of you may or may not know, I am writing my own book. If you want to watch my video journey through the process (or watch me analyze pop culture for writing lessons), go to my Facebook page for Facebook lives! I am calling my show Fox on Pop. I am going to…
The other day, I was Voxing with one of my clients, and she asked me how I read for fun as an editor. It isn't easy. When I am reading a book, even from a traditional publisher, it is hard for me to not notice errors. This is especially true while I am copyediting a book.…
By Mikael Short Around the holidays, I’m a sucker for watching (ahem . . . re-watching) all of my holiday favorite films, one of them being Love Actually. Any flaws in this movie are easily glossed over because of the charm and the talent on screen. Love Actually truly has a masterful way of weaving…
When I was in college, I applied for the Marshall Fellowship (this relates to writing, I promise). I wanted to study the depictions of Diana, the goddess of the moon, in Scottish literature, so of course I had to go to Edinburgh (the fact that it was the birthplace of Harry Potter was definitely a…
Since American Thanksgiving is right around the corner, I thought I would share my writer's gratitude list with you. 1. Books. They formed me as a writer and a person. 2. Coffee. 3. Computers. 4. Microsoft Word. 5. Editors. 6. Journals. 7. R.S.V.P. pens. 8. Libraries. 9. Independent bookstores. 10. YOU! Thank you so much…
When I was in Japan, staring out the window of a bullet train as Miyazaki-esque houses flew by, I listened to "The Passenger" by Iggy Pop on repeat. I am not sure why I chose that song to listen to obsessively. Maybe because the title was on the nose. Maybe because I love rock. Maybe because…
There are some basic rules to NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). You have to write 50,000 words in a month. You have to start on November 1. You have to work on a new piece. You have to write a novel. I am breaking all the rules. Okay, I am writing a novel because this is…
I adore Judd Apatow. Ever since I saw Freaks and Geeks, I have wanted to hang a poster of him in my office as a source of inspiration (don't worry; I won't build a shrine a la Helga in Hey Arnold!). I think he is funny, brilliant, and interesting. He creates characters that are complex, flawed, and…
I was so honored to be interviewed by Ricky Shetty for his podcast. We discuss all you need to know about creating a book. We cover everything from busting writer's block to the pros and cons of self-publishing.
As you know, I went to the Hamptons last week, and it pretty much changed my life. Everything was in a total state of flow, and I had the most fun writing. How did I maintain this close communion with my muse? After reflecting on my trip, I pulled out five writing lessons for you.…