Writer Unboxed

Over the weekend, in the collectibles section at a used-book sale, I came across a volume whose dedication contained this quote: “There is a moment of profound discouragement which succeeds to prolonged effort; when, the labor which has become a habit having ceased, we miss the sustaining sense of its companionship, and stand, with a […]

Sometimes it’s hard coming up with a blog post. After all–unlike Marsha, Juliet, Allison, Vicky and Jason–I am a pubbed nonfic writer but not a published author. So what the heck do I know, really, about writing books? Aren’t I just guessing at what’s required to make it in this business? Some days I just […]

A friend of mine sent me a link to a recent essay by novelist Erica Jong. In it she argues that women writers–especially those who write about relationships–are not taken seriously as Great Writers the way men who write about the same subjects are.
Jeffrey Eugenides had his moment, then Jonathan Franzen and Jonathan Safran […]

Congratulations to Dale Launer, whose latest film, Tom’s Nu Heaven, just won Best New Film at the Monaco Film Festival! Launer talks about TNH in this part of his interview with WU, but here’s something he didn’t mention: that he filmed this movie himself using a Sony digital high-definition HDW-F900 camera. (Sounds daunting, doesn’t it?)
If […]

We are pleased to introduce WU guest blogger, Dave Duggins.  We love Dave’s voice, and we love his approach to writing fiction.  Dave has been writing and publishing genre short fiction for twenty years.  Recently retired from a career in the Air Force, he’s now a full-time creativity coach, offering helpful tips, inspiration and instruction to writers through http://www.voidgunner.homestead.com.
He also […]

I’m trying something new: using a Google Notebook to capture tantalizing bits of business & book news I think you’ll appreciate. The public web addy for this notebook is HERE. Let me know if you have problems accessing, etc… and what you think about the system. I think it’ll make updating easier.

I haven’t posted a Click Here in a while, so here you go. Continuing with our screenwriting trend, these research links that should appeal to the Hollywood-intrigued among us.
Does your story have a clear protagonist and antagonist? It it emotionally, rather than intellectually, driven? Is there clear conflict? Does it possess an interesting “air?” Might […]

I’d decided to take a break from television following the climax of all my favorite reality TV shows. But when I needed some couch time the other night, I flipped on the tube to find–surprise–another reality TV show, one I’d heard a little about: On The Lot.
Haven’t heard of it? Here’s a blip about […]

I’m a little embarrassed.
I’m pretty well-versed in the ins-and-outs of publishing. I know how to craft a compelling scene and keep the adverbs in check. I’ve interviewed tons of terrific authors about their work. But I know nothing about the biggest area of genre fiction going right now: fan fiction.
I mean, I’d […]

We’re thrilled to bring you the first in a three-part interview with screenwriter, producer and director Dale Launer. Dale’s credits include such classics as Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, My Cousin Vinny and Ruthless People. He has a fabulous, ironic sense of humor and spoke candidly with me about the business, writing in general and comic writing […]