Dear Writers, I have a confession. I am in love with a dead white English guy, a writer. If it isn’t love, at least it is a shock of recognition, a wave of gratitude at being seen, the kind of amazement when someone brings something into words that illuminates, or puts into relief, or gives… Continue reading Dead white English writer, and your sense of time and story structure.
Writing Craft
Story, and the Republican National Convention and Minnesota Nice and East Africans in the Twin Cities and Blood Diamonds,
or, The Blood Diamond of Story. Perhaps the wonderful thing about story, about writing, is the chance to reframe everything. The free field of language which in its spiderwebbing way leads us to more truth, hidden truth, forgotten truth, truth which has been obscured and deformed. Reframing everything. Putting everything back in context. … Continue reading Story, and the Republican National Convention and Minnesota Nice and East Africans in the Twin Cities and Blood Diamonds,
Writer’s Block versus The Head Cornerstone! A mighty battle!
July 30, 2008 Dear Writers, I wouldn’t exactly say I am on a roll, like some blog-crazy youngster, but I do feel the need to write more on writing, this big mystery, not as great a mystery as determining the location and nature of evil, or understanding what love actually is, but it is a… Continue reading Writer’s Block versus The Head Cornerstone! A mighty battle!
Character’s voice? Neruda said, “Speak through my words and my blood.”
I want to respond to something someone suggested about my book, The Stories of Devil-Girl, and then get to what I really want to talk about, which has to do with the process of writing strong characters, and the profound reasons for doing so. The statement said something to the effect that this character of Devil-Girl,… Continue reading Character’s voice? Neruda said, “Speak through my words and my blood.”
Spring; The Stories of Devil-Girl coming in print; Important news of film: Hunted Like Animals
May 6, 2008, A breathless time, spring, with all its upheaval. Its approach, its elusiveness. Its promise. Forgive my lack of blogginess. Lots of good work in the way, some of it to meet a publication deadline. My novella, The Stories of Devil-Girl, will be published in print in June 2008 by Modern… Continue reading Spring; The Stories of Devil-Girl coming in print; Important news of film: Hunted Like Animals
Good stuff coming very soon! Online class; local mentorship groups.
Dear Friends, Get in on it! February 25, 2008 I will begin teaching an online class for Writers.com called Claiming Our Stories: Working with the Power of Autobiography and Autobiographical Fiction. There are not many places left, so if you have been fencesitting, jump in and sign up as soon as possible! I am very excited about it,… Continue reading Good stuff coming very soon! Online class; local mentorship groups.
How can we know the writer from the dancer?
I am thinking that every act is a creative act. Only some creative acts provide an opening into something vital; other creative acts provide duplication, follow the path of habit, add to repetition, create walls - solidity - separation from the vital and the as yet unborn. And some acts, of course, create destruction. So,… Continue reading How can we know the writer from the dancer?
Why won’t Devil-girl just go away? Why now, the re-release of The Stories of Devil-girl?
On a simple level, here is an opportunity to support good literature at a time when The Market is often powerful at blocking quality and truth. And, in this case, this is an opportunity to help support organizations that are proven to be effective and bold and devoted to working to improve the lives of some of the… Continue reading Why won’t Devil-girl just go away? Why now, the re-release of The Stories of Devil-girl?
Good-bye to the blink of an eye year; taking hold of this one coming, to step fully into writing.
I wrote the below last week, in a snowstorm. I want to remind you to check the previous post, some good newsy stuff to notice, and to let you know that Grand Web Master Brian Tanaka has pointed to January 11 for the likely release of The Stories of Devil-girl novella-download, so expect more news soon. In the… Continue reading Good-bye to the blink of an eye year; taking hold of this one coming, to step fully into writing.
Newsy stuff up top. Extraordinary writer stuff below.
I have been waiting for some news necessary to get going with the re-release of my novella, The Stories of Devil-girl, but while our intrepid Devil-child is currently in a holding pattern, there is some light in the cave. I am anxious to get this recording to you, and to send a portion of the proceeds to Women… Continue reading Newsy stuff up top. Extraordinary writer stuff below.
Anya Achtenberg 