Consider This: Moments in My Writing Life after Which Everything Was Different

Thus a passage like, “Arlene was at the door. She had long, brown hair, her face had a look of shocked surprise. She was taller than he remembered...” is less engaging than, “Arlene stepped into view, framed by the open doorway. With one gloved hand she brushed her long, brown hair away from her face. Her penciled eyebrows arched in surprise...” Wi

So if you were my student, I’d tell you to establish emotional authority by depicting an imperfect character making a mistake.

So if you were my student, I’d tell you to listen to your body as you write. Take note how your hand knows how much coffee is left by the weight of the cup. Tell your stories not simply through your readers’ eyes and minds, but through their skin, their noses, their guts, the bottoms of their feet.

As Katherine Dunn put it, “No two people ever walk into the same room.”

So were I your teacher, I’d tell you to write in the first person, but to weed out almost all of your pesky “I”

So never dictate meaning to your reader. If need be, misdirect him. But always allow him to realize the truth before you state it outright. Trust your readers’ intelligence and intuition, and they will return the favor.

when choosing an idea for a book, make sure it’s an idea that only a book can best present. If it’s an idea that film, comics, or gaming can depict, why bother writing the book? If you were my student I’d tell you to write the most outlandish, challenging, provocative stories. Take full advantage of the complete freedom books provide. To not take a

So do not write to be liked. Write to be remembered.

Not many stories exist without both voices. On Star Trek it’s the captain’s log.