Gatherings like this were common in Lincoln’s time, when ideas and arguments were often tested in small rooms before they reached a wider audience. At writers group today I read another chapter of my Lincoln novel and received several helpful suggestions. After the reading we talked about something writers often wonder about–how books actually findContinue reading “How Participating in a Writers Group Helps Shape a Historical Novel and Career”
Category Archives: Writing blog
A Good Afternoon at Writers Group
Today’s writers’ group was larger than usual–eight of us gathered, which increased the energy in the room. It lifted everyone’s spirits after the long winter. I read my work and received some good comments to help me in my revision. So I’m feeling energized to get a lot more done. Several members, including myself broughContinue reading “A Good Afternoon at Writers Group”
Choosing the Next Story
Soon I will be doing this for both Ed and I’s work, but today I’m talking about Ed. This week I’ll begin rereading several of Ed’s stories to decide which one should be next for publication. I asked the Friends of Ed group for suggestions, but in the end, the decision rests with me. That’sContinue reading “Choosing the Next Story”
The Work of Refinement
It’s a quiet week in my world. A relief after the hustle of my week off work. Traveling There are no announcements, no finished chapters, no visible milestones. What there is, instead, is refinement. Tomorrow I’ll be revising Chapter 7 in preparation for reading at Scribes. Reading aloud is an important tool. It clarifies rhythm,Continue reading “The Work of Refinement”
Knowing the Characters
When I read at Scribes last week, I was amazed again at the response. It does my heart good. People respond as though the characters’ inner lives feel real. They ask questions about motives, tensions, and decisions as if these are living people rather than historical figures on a page. That tells me something important.Continue reading “Knowing the Characters”
Standing on the Same Ground
Abraham Lincoln grew up in Indiana. I grew up in Indiana. So did my ancestors. We didn’t live in the same century but lived in the same state. That shared geography matters. My grandparents had a photo of Lincoln that always hung in their house, and it now hangs in mine. I think this isContinue reading “Standing on the Same Ground”
The View From The Imaginarium 