Revision toolbox

After typing THE END in giant block letters on my no-holds-barred first draft, how do I polish it into a ready-for-other-people-to-read version? As many writers will tell you, writing is revision. Once I’ve let a manuscript rest for at least 6 weeks (or 6 months or even 2 years!), I read it through again fast.…Continue reading Revision toolbox

Revising a revision strategy, part 2: Characters

This week, I’m interrogating my characters.   I finished examining my novel’s scenes last week. It was both dispiriting and energizing to find SO MANY areas for opportunity, but the exercise allowed me to sort where my novel as a whole is strong and where it needs more work–and how exactly I might improve it.…Continue reading Revising a revision strategy, part 2: Characters

Revising a revision strategy, part 1: Scenes

I’m finally diving into revisions of the book I finished in May with a whole new revision strategy. That is, with a strategy at all. Usually I just start reworking everything all at once, from structure to punctuation, becoming pretty overwhelmed by my big mess. Well, early drafts are always a mess, but I’m feeling more in…Continue reading Revising a revision strategy, part 1: Scenes

Fond farewell to Literary Mama

This month is the first in almost nine years that I haven’t helped to prepare the September issue of Literary Mama. This summer, I handed the Poetry Editor reins to my talented colleague and poetic co-conspirator Juli Anna Herndon so I could pursue a writing career. The Poetry department, and the overall site, is in…Continue reading Fond farewell to Literary Mama

Submission considerations

It took dealing with lots of submissions as an editor for me to wake up. When I’m reading subs for Literary Mama, I have to consider many factors: Does the poem move me, is it well-crafted, does it fit the journal’s mission and style? And of course, where can I fit it, and do we…Continue reading Submission considerations