Read something different!
Historical fiction seems to be a trendy genre these days. The question is: when does a story qualify as historical fiction? It seems clear that if a story takes place in the past and is fictional, it must, by definition, be “historical fiction.” But it seems that it’s not that clear. The blurb on Masterclass […]
Read More When is fiction historical? A book launch and an unknown genreOriginally posted on Patricia J. Parsons:
Years ago, one of my students returned from a semester abroad in Australia and brought me a little gift for helping her. It is a coffee coaster, and it has sat on my desk for years. It says, “Common sense is not common at all!” I’m sure you’ve heard…
What do the following two pictures have in common? Words? Pictures? Ideas? Yes, yes and yes. But they are also both photos of sources I’m using for my new work-in-progress. Yes, they are drastically different in terms of medium. The first two are reference books I’m madly absorbing so that I can recreate the zeitgeist […]
Read More Writing Advice: Five tips to inspire (and improve) your online researchOriginally posted on Patricia J. Parsons:
In modern parlance, I’m what might be called a “plotter” when it comes to my writing. This is in contrast to those of you who are called “pantsers,” although I’m not sure why anyone would accept that slightly dubious moniker. Anyway, plotters plan things – characters, timelines, settings and,…
(excerpt from Permission to Write: How to Write a Book & Other Myths from the Real World of Writing & Publishing by Patricia J. Parsons The moment the publisher said “yes” she was interested in seeing more about my book with a view to possible publication was the moment I knew I’d have to learn […]
Read More How to Write a Book ProposalOriginally posted on Patricia J. Parsons:
Some years ago, I wrote a blog piece on self-plagiarism, a concept that seems to be largely unknown in circles of wannabe writers these days. It seemed important at that time because I was still teaching full-time at a university, and a former student contacted me to ask for…
by Patricia J. Parsons Writers write. Editors edit. It’s that simple. Right? Well, not really. Let’s take a trip through the writing-editing process from the beginning of an idea to when a book makes its way into a reader’s hands. An idea forms in a writer’s head and that writer takes a unique, individualized approach […]
Read More Who’s on first: Understanding who’s who in book editingby Patricia J.Parsons In his book On Writing Well, an absolute must-read for anyone who writes, the estimable William Zinsser presents to us an entire chapter simply titled “clutter.” He begins by telling us that “…fighting clutter is like fighting weeds – the writer is always slightly behind.” This is probably truer these days than […]
Read More How to Reduce Clutter in Your Writingby Patricia J. Parsons If you write fiction, you’ve been told over and over that publishers and readers look for “fresh voices” and it’s much the same for nonfiction. A writer’s voice is that unique fingerprint that identifies that writer’s style, or as it was put to me early in my writing career, style is […]
Read More Promoting your writer’s voice online: How do you sound?There’s little doubt that writing is, in general, a solitary business. That’s why keeping your momentum, as we discussed last week, is so important. No boss is demanding that you complete the work or risk your job. It’s just you. However, there might be times when you ought to consider a collaboration. There may be […]
Read More Collaborative writing: Is it for you?
Moonlight Press 