Yes, it’s happening again. I’ve managed to work on the manuscript a little bit each day for the past several. At last, I wake up already immersed in the story. For me, that’s different from merely thinking about the story.…
Author: Ken Lawrence
New Focus
Thank God Dave’s review of my opener blew it all to bits. Before the explosion there was plenty of witty dialog, irony, nostalgia—even a dash of sexual tease. So what’s not to like? As written, there was nothing thrilling about…
Blow It Up
I’ve been away too long. That’s it. I’ve been longing to post this and dreading it for what seems like forever. I’m rewriting the front end of a book—creating a new premise. Getting rid of a blocky flash forward. I…
Are You Still Mine?
I recently asked my most trusted editor, collaborator and coach (aka my wife Pat) to read through the first three chapters of my second book as I was preparing to pitch it to agents at the upcoming Books Alive Writers…
Robert Frost and a Lump in the Throat
In a letter dated January 1, 1916 to writer and critic Louis Untermeyer, Robert Frost declares, “a poem is never a put-up job—it begins as a lump in the throat, a sense of wrong, a homesickness, a lovesickness.” I…
Authenticate the Moment
How do you bring a character to the edge—the breaking or turning point—a moment that is life changing? Let’s say our character has reached a moment that has been coming for a long time. Maybe today’s the day that…
I Take It As a Sign
This sign for Bust Head Road hit me square in the funny bone. I don’t expect to see a plethora of poplars on Poplar Lane, or anything resembling Honest Abe on Lincoln Avenue. They’re just names — something to distinguish…
Halfway to What?
I’m driving on a country road somewhere between Haymarket, Virginia and Middleburg, not bothering with a map or GPS because the twisty drive is a familiar one for unwinding. I recognize wooded stretches and valley views and know that there’s…
Getting Closer
Through the glorious process of revision, I have rewritten the beginning and end of my book. I’ve renamed it, added characters, and beefed-up a few who needed more meat on their bones. This is no longer a linear chronology that…
In Search of Voice
Describing an author’s voice is a lot like describing a small town’s charm, or the dominant flavor in a great soup. As writers we need to understand what voice is and be careful to build and preserve a clear and…