by Mike Allegra, TWC Instructor Years ago, I wrote and edited for an alumni magazine called The Lawrentian, a job that allowed me to meet a lot of fascinating people. One such person was Ken Hakuta, the inventor of The Wacky Wallwalker—a sticky, octopus-ish thing that…
By TWC Founder/Director Judith Lindbergh For years, I’ve been saying that I don’t believe in writer’s block—that I prefer to call it writer’s challenge. Well, I’ve been experiencing a whole lot of writer’s challenge during these last few weeks. According to my research, it’s not…
We’re excited to welcome publishing pro and author Rachel Kempster Barry to our teaching staff. Rachel knows this business inside and out and will help you get a handle on how publishing runs and how you can strategize for the good of your own writing. …
by TWC Founder/Director Judith Lindbergh What a pleasure to welcome Christina Baker Kline back to The Writers Circle! Our conversation on Wrangling Research*, held Sunday, February 21 via Zoom, proved yet again Christina’s wisdom, candor, and generosity. In a whopping two-hour conversation, we covered the gamut from inspiration…
by TWC Founder/Director Judith Lindbergh A student recently asked a great question that I think many writers ponder and even worry about: What separates “literary” from “non-literary?” How do you suggest we strive to create “literature,” or not, as my creative writing teacher in college…
We’ve been working on it for years, but it took the global pandemic to make it possible: bringing a crowd of nearly 100 (tiny digital faces) to The Writers Circle to learn from publishing expert Jane Friedman. “The Foundations of Getting Published” was just that—an…
by Mally Becker, TWC Outreach Coordinator “How’s the soon-to-be-published author?” someone teased me as I entered MONDO-Summit last Sunday. Thrilled and clueless. That’s how I felt. I had signed a three-book contract with Level Best Books just weeks earlier, with my debut novel, The Turncoat’s…
When SheWrites Press (SWP) accepted my novel for publication, there was one caveat. They do not publish anything that exceeds 120,000 words. And Beyond the Ghetto Gates clocked in at 135,000. Now, when it comes to historical fiction, my word count is not excessive. In…
by TWC Founder/Director Judith Lindbergh For anyone who doesn’t know what a “beta-reader” is, just think about software launches. How often do you get a warning that you’re using the beta version of an app and are invited to share your experiences using the software? …
by TWC Founder/Director Judith Lindbergh As TWC’s writers and their works mature, more and more of you are submitting for publication. We cheer you on and share your hopes and dreams, as well as rejection letters, hard decisions about self-publishing, embarking on yet another draft,…
by TWC Director Judith Lindbergh You’ve sold your book! Or you’re publishing it yourself. Either way, with the publication date in sight, it’s tempting to think the hard work is done. In fact, it’s time to “put on a different hat,” roll up your sleeves,…
by TWC Director Judith Lindbergh After years of watching my students develop their novels, a handful are finally ready to submit. I’m thinking of two in particular – you know who you are (and Michelle tells me there are others!) – who have truly worked…
