Write The Book: Conversations on Craft

Denise Mina - Interview #232 (2/25/13)

Award-winning Scottish crime novelist Denise Mina, whose latest book is Gods and Beasts, published by Reagan Arthur Books. This week's Write The Book Prompts were suggested by my guest, Denise Mina. The first is to do a timed speed-writing (automatic writing) session. Set a clock for three minutes, keep your pen on the page for that time and write down anything that comes into your head. Not a story, Denise says, just the stuff in your head. Stop after the 3 minutes and go away, and then come back and do another three minutes. She says this is a great way to get yourself started if you're stuck. Another good tip that she offers: as you're falling asleep, try to think of the next sentence. You'll wake up with a sense of urgency, desperate to get to your desk. Good luck with this exercise and please listen next week for another. Music credits: 1) “Dreaming 1″ - John Fink; 2) “Filter” - Dorset Greens (a former Vermont band featuring several South Burlington High School graduates)

Lloyd Devereux Richards - Interview #231 (2/18/13)

Vermont writer Lloyd Devereux Richards, author of Stone Maidens, published by Thomas & Mercer (Amazon's mystery imprint). Once or twice during the interview, Lloyd mentioned a book he'd found particularly helpful in revising Stone Maidens. I'll mention it here, so you have the full title; it's Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook, by author and literary agent, Donald Maass. This week's Write The Book Prompt was suggested by my guest, Lloyd Devereux Richards. Rewrite a scene you've already worked on, but do so from a different character's perspective. Good luck with this exercise and please listen next week for another. Music credits: 1) “Dreaming 1″ - John Fink; 2) “Filter” - Dorset Greens (a former Vermont band featuring several South Burlington High School graduates)

Mary Lambert & Rose McAleese - Interview #230 (2/11/13)

Singer, songwriter and poet/slam poet Mary Lambert and filmmaker and slam poet Rose McAleese, who’ll be performing at Radio Bean in Burlington on Saturday night. Here are links to their Bobby Sands performance (which I played at the start of the show) and the Macklemore and Ryan Lewis YouTube video of Same Love. This week's Write The Book Prompt is to perform your work in some way. If you feel confident to compete in a local slam, do that. Or read a poem or story at an open mic in your area. Or read one to a friend or group of friends. Maybe you'll find that your work, spoken aloud, affects you in a different way than it does on the page. You might hear things as you practice that inspire you to make changes. In any case, sharing your work with an audience gets it out into the world in a new way. Good luck with this exercise and please listen next week for another.

Roberta Gately - Interview #229 (2/4/12)

Writer, nurse and humanitarian aid worker Roberta Gately, author of Lipstick in Afghanistan and The Bracelet. This week's Write The Book Prompt was suggested by my guest, Roberta Gately. She says that when you observe people closely, writing ideas do come. She suggests that writers always have a notebook handy, so you can jot down your ideas wherever you are, no matter what you're doing. Next, go to a place where you're likely to find a lot of people: a supermarket, a library, or a shopping mall, for example. And watch people. See what you see, and write down your new ideas. Good luck with this exercise and please listen next week for another. Music credits: 1) “Dreaming 1″ - John Fink; 2) “Filter” - Dorset Greens (a former Vermont band featuring several South Burlington High School graduates)