I stand in line at the post office. A long line. I have lots of time to think. Did I remember to put everything in the package? Did I spell my name right? Would Mr. Important Agent think my writing inept? Inane? Irredeemably moronic? Nothing like hanging yourself out...

I think the whole writing process would have been simpler if we had named it rewriting. Take my kids, for example. They write their paper about ancient Greek culture and they think they’re done. The term “rough draft” evokes a horror somewhat akin to having a cell...

I’ve discovered my weakness. Too many words. I don’t mean the spoken kind. I mean the written kind. One of the best things that ever happened to me occurred when I wanted to submit my work to a contest. I thought I’d written a pretty decent piece. Then I saw the word...

So I’ve got great news. My novel writing career is starting just like J. K. Rowling’s. With rejection. Alas. But hey, all the biggies suffer it. I’m in good company. The point is, I’m no longer a wannabe writer. I’ve moved up to being a real live rejected writer....

Here’s an economically unsound idea. Spend months and months writing a book that no one may want to publish. Uh, yeah, let’s look for the economic winner plan. How ‘bout while I’m spending months and months writing a book no one may publish, I trickle off a little...

One of the cool things about being a writer is that there are a plethora of other like-minded writers to support you in your weirdness. You just have to find them. Say you’re talking about some poor fellow you know, and lamenting all his struggles for like, half an...

So a really good thing happened. I got rejected again. I should clarify. My manuscript got rejected, not me personally. It’s been the best thing that’s happened so far for my writing career. I’d worked hard on my manuscript. I had a good relationship with the agent I...

So I’ve been taking the latest rejection of my nonfiction manuscript as a redirection, and I’m having a jolly time writing humorous fiction. I sit on my couch and giggle. Really, I have to be careful I don’t make myself spew coffee from my nose. I know, I know. I’m...

While I’m at the writers conference where I get interest from a fabulous agent about my nonfiction dog book proposal, I also take the opportunity to get feedback on my novel. After all, that’s fun writing too. My previous contest results for the novel tell me the...