by Cynthia Newberry Martin | Jan 26, 2012 | catching moments, craft of writing, details, stories |
I want to slow things down. I was planning on writing a post on several stories in Alan Heathcock’s debut collection, Volt, but I think I’ll just look at the first story. “The Staying Freight”–I love the title–was first published in...
by Cynthia Newberry Martin | Sep 28, 2011 | craft of writing, novels |
In a stack of books I wanted to write about, I found Elizabeth Strout’s Amy & Isabelle that I reread in November of 2010–almost a year ago. (I really should clean out my study more often–yes, I’m still going–down to one laundry...
by Cynthia Newberry Martin | Sep 20, 2011 | craft of writing, my writing |
Just a quick update: the rearranging of my study is temporarily on hold (things still sit in laundry baskets and all around me is still a HUGE mess) as I work on the revision of my novel like someone who has no other life. My third to last packet is due Friday, and I...
by Cynthia Newberry Martin | Sep 12, 2011 | craft of writing, details, the day, time |
write blog post read over 5 pages of novel-details (every day 5 pages) make airline reservations for Oct trip to California out buy birthday gifts (8 birthdays in 10 days in sept) exercise grocery (supper!) make copy of photo call cancel exercise apt in Atl Dad Claire...
by Cynthia Newberry Martin | Aug 18, 2011 | craft of writing |
From Dan Chaon’s Await Your Reply, how an image can make words come alive: Without the image: Her thoughts were not clearly articulated in her mind, but she could feel them moving swiftly, gathering. “What are you thinking about?” George Orson said,...
by Cynthia Newberry Martin | Aug 17, 2011 | craft of writing, details, novels |
In Await Your Reply, published in 2009, Dan Chaon uses repetition in a very cool way. Instead of bogging down the original scene, he pushes the action forward first, then a bit later, moves in for a close-up or two, adding additional details. For example, on page 246,...
