All posts tagged: writer’s retreat

Write On, Wednesday: Dealing with Structure

Published by

By Leslie Lindsay  (image retrieved from myhsj.org) I have my novel-in-process right here with me.  Yes, its in electronic form on my handy-dandy lap-top and in binder form sitting on the table next to me.  I have another binder full of hand-outs  hints, tips, ideas, inspiration from from time at the Write by the Lake writer’s retreat back in June.  I don’t want to do anything about it.  Nope.  Nada.  No way.  “It’s hard!” I whine.  (Well, if it were easy, everyone would write a book).  But I know I need to.  Here’s what needs to happen:  I need to take all of my prose and turn into something a little more mangable.  I thought I was a person who could write without an outline…I preferred it that way.  Hey–if I knew every twist and turn ahead of time, what’s the point in writing?  For me, writing is a discovery process.  It’s about being in the moment and seeing where my fingers take me.  It’s pretty darn fun.  But back to structure.  I started out …

Write on, Wednesday: Decontrusting a Novel

Published by

By Leslie Lindsay We writers love to read.  It kind of goes with the territory.  So, it is surprise that while I was away on a writing retreat at the University Wisconsin-Madison last week, we talked about just that…writers who read and readers who write.  Now, if you have a book you are wild about, why not take it apart…I don’t mean literally, but more in a metaphorical way.  It will help you become a better writer.  Here’s the deal: Get your hands on a book/novel you really like.  You’ve read it before, I am sure. Now, prepare a little worksheet (I know, it sounds like school…but I did mine on a piece of scrap paper from the kitchen last night). What’s the title?  Write it down on the top of your paper.  Author, too. What does the back cover blurb say?  Write it down or make a photocopy.  What are some of the familiar (everyday, commonplace) themes/elements in the book?  [doctors, families, moms, infidelity] What’s the unique angle?  (what makes this book different from …