General
On Beginning
“To live a truly creative life, we always need to cast a critical look at where we presently are, attempting always to discern where we have become stagnant and where new beginning might be ripening.” –John O’Donohue, To Bless the Space Between Us * Recommended inspirations for beginning: The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury Why We Write edited by Meredith Maran The Art of Fiction by John Gardner Wreck this Journal by Keri Smith The Getaway Car by Ann Patchett On Writing by Stephen King Why I Write by George Orwell 12 Rules of Creativity by Michael Atavar This Time I Dance! by Tama Kieves Bird by Bird...
Read MoreJudy Collins’ NYC booksigning
Judy Collins’ NYC book signing October 19th: Judy will sign copies of her book SWEET JUDY BLUE EYES: My Life in Music on Wednesday, October 19th at 7pm at Barnes & Noble/Union Square (33 West 17th Street). Judy will give a talk and weave some a cappella singing throughout. Starred Publishers Weekly review: Collins’s improbable and utterly charming tale of assuming iconic status as a popular music star from the early 1960s’ onward also proves a tremendously valuable chronicle of the early folk music scene. Collins was there, rather accidentally: she was a classical pianist who had largely grown up in Denver, Colo., to a blind, hard-drinking father who...
Read MorePitchfest Writer’s Guidelines
Last week I attended the AHCJ writers conference “Pitchfest” and handed out this one-page overview to prospective authors. (Disclaimer: I pulled this together at midnight the night before and was half-asleep, and I MAY SEEM LIKE I’M YELLING, but it still distills key points to hone your pitch to an agent & publisher.) * Susan Raihofer/ David Black Literary Agency/www.susanraihofer.com/ twitter @sraihofer After nearly two decades as an agent, I’ve heard thousands of pitches (and have survived). I do believe anything is possible. But in today’s challenging publishing economy, you need heavy doses of talent and determination, along with some basic...
Read More