March 20, 2012

Hi friends & writers,

How is your writing going? I’d love to hear. If you have time this week, send me an email sharing some of the highlights and lowlights of fitting writing in.

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PROCESS: CHARACTERS & EMPATHY

In life and in writing, we tend to empathize with people who can communicate their own truth and experience, and who hold themselves accountable for their life’s shape. These people seem honest with themselves, diplomatic with others.

Try this: When revising a piece of writing, ask these questions of your main character: 1) Does she express her version of events honestly instead of just trying to make it socially acceptable? 2) Does he take responsibility for his role in events, rather than just blaming others? Working toward yeses for these questions creates characters with whom readers are likely to empathize.

FEATURED VENUE: FUGUE

Fugue, edited by graduate students at the University of Idaho, is accepting poetry, nonfiction, and “experiment” submissions online through May 1. Contributors receive payment (!) and two copies of the journal.

Submission Guidelines here: http://www.uiweb.uidaho.edu/fugue/submit.html

PROMPT

“After coming into contact with ________ I always feel I must wash my hands.” (10min)