clockwise from top left: my scratchy handwriting; killer speech from the brilliant Michaela Coel; copy of Elizabeth Warren button; Poet & Writers 50th anniversary logo, which coincides with my 50th year; copy of Jane Eyre pin, with quote: “I am no bird, and no net ensnares me”; and an overly memed but apt quote from…… Continue reading Notes to self
Category: Writing Process
Revolutions
Me [waltzing in, whistling]: Gone from the blog for more than a year? Don’t know what you’re talking about. There never was a Time stamp. Nope. Wrong! Sad! Enoguh with the FAKE NEWS!!!!!! ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE! Believe me, I am a Excellent Writer and know Exactly how to use capitals for emphasis. Your pour…… Continue reading Revolutions
Talking shop: fiction’s missing girls, writer v. author, small towns, lyrics, + more
Happy to have had the chance to talk about writing and Sycamore with E. Ce Miller at Bustle and Sam Hankin at The Avid Reader Show (a podcast); Sam also owns the Wellington Square Bookshop (shop local and indie, y’all!). Many, many thanks to both E. Ce and Sam for taking the time to read…… Continue reading Talking shop: fiction’s missing girls, writer v. author, small towns, lyrics, + more
How to Write Suspense (subhed: Wait, I Write Suspense?)
Delighted to have a short craft essay, “How to Write Suspense,” up over at Publisher’s Weekly Tip Sheet related to Sycamore. Thanks much to PW for having me. Back when PW asked if I could write it, my first response was to laugh. How to write suspense? I have no idea. Is that what I…… Continue reading How to Write Suspense (subhed: Wait, I Write Suspense?)
Q&A: On being haunted, small towns, and cats in boxes
Was happy to do this interview with the wonderful novelist Caroline Leavitt over at her terrific blog, CAROLINELEAVITTVILLE.
Imaginary Soundtracks, Vol. 1
Mixing it up here at the old blog by, you know, actually writing on it. “Mix,” in fact, is the word on my mind today. As in, “Get ready for a mixed-up, mixed bag of a post.” Or, “How many mixed metaphors can I throw into the mix today?” Or, “Our reckless, moronic loon of…… Continue reading Imaginary Soundtracks, Vol. 1
Lost and found
THE SHEEPISH RETURN Act I, Scene I. Setting: Desk. Chair. Computer. Writer (ME) in mid-40s, hunched, hair frizzing to high heaven. Lights up on ME typing on BLOG. ME: Hey, Blog. ‘Sup? BLOG: New phone. Who dis? ME: Come on, baby. Don’t be like that. BLOG: Don’t ‘baby’ me. You’re the one who hasn’t come…… Continue reading Lost and found
Marking time
*** “Is it okay to be me? … the answer was yes often enough that I went ahead and became her: the writer of plainspoken prose who would not shut up about her grief.”–from Dear Sugar, “The God of Doing it Anyway” *** Today is the day my father died. On this day, twenty years…… Continue reading Marking time
Maps and legends
Oh, little blog, I’ve neglected you so. If you were a garden, you’d be a shriveled, gasping mess of brown stems and dry soil that loose cats have turned into a litterbox. Oops. As usual when I sit down here after an absence, I’m all over the place, squirming and twitchy, struggling to make order…… Continue reading Maps and legends
Final days at Jentel: Draft 1, Done!
Yesterday, in my fourth week at Jentel, with three days left in my residency, this happened… …while I was working here: So today, I did this to celebrate… …knowing that I still have lots and lots of work to do to before the book is actually finished. Still, this place… …has been a little bit…… Continue reading Final days at Jentel: Draft 1, Done!
Bryn Chancellor 