Blog Posts for Elizabeth Stark

Don’t Just Sit There, Write Something!

Elizabeth Stark — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:22:53 -0800

I ran a coaching call this morning made up of a group of writers most of whom had finished or were nearly finishing a first book—and by finish I mean putting on the final touches, NOT completing a rough draft. They asked questions and shared techniques, and each approach that had worked for someone sounded wise and wonderful. One said that he wrote slowly, that it took him a long time each day ...

Getting Off on a Technicality: First Person v. Third Person

Elizabeth Stark — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:25:55 -0700

I’ve had a couple of recent queries about first person v. third person. Maybe I’ll tackle them in my blog. I’d bloody well do something in my blog if I’m to hold up my head as a content creator. And what, after all, was a writer if not the ur-content creator? She’d had a couple of recent queries about first person v. third person. Maybe she would tackle them in her blog. She’d ...

The Plot Against Plot

Elizabeth Stark — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:25:25 -0700

I’ve been part of an interesting conversation about plot in literature lately. By “part” I mean that through Tweeted and emailed links to blogs and articles, a conversation has made itself available me as witness, commenter and now commentator. First, Lev Grossman wrote a piece, “Good Books Don’t Have to Be Hard” for the Wall Street Journal. His subtitle: “A novelist on the pleasure ...

Dear Writer: Why Start with a Frame for Your Book?

Elizabeth Stark — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:51:07 -0700

The following is the letter I wrote to the brave group of folks who started–and yes, finished–books with me last fall. I thought it might be useful to anyone gearing up to write a book. If you want to join my group, check it out HERE. Dear Book Writers,Why a Frame? Why are we starting with plot (and character)?It has been my experience that the hardest thing to go back and put into a novel ...

Publishing Success and Social Networking

Elizabeth Stark — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 20:30:01 -0700

Everything is changing. This much we know. People lament or exalt the Kimble, perhaps via Facebook or a Tweet. Yes, it’s a different world than the one where your morning newspaper (what’s that?) landed with a thump on your doorstep and you put a thumb between the pages of your book to call out to your kid to bring it in the house. These days you might be reading a book at Google while your ...

Jamie Ford Shows You the Best Way to Get An Agent

Elizabeth Stark — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:26:05 -0700

I've been recommending this link to a number of my clients who are getting ready to go in search of an agent, and I thought I'd post it for the rest of you who might be heading that direction. Jamie Ford, in case you haven't heard of him (and apparently there are folks who haven't heard of Kafka, so Jamie doesn't need to feel bad and I'm sure he doesn't) is a best-selling ...

Writers: Need Advice, Encouragement, Answers to Burning Questions?

Elizabeth Stark — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:36:21 -0700

Every month, I host a free coaching call for writers on the third Thursday of the month. This week, on June 18, the call, from 5 - 6 p.m. PST, will look at how to make scenes pop. In addition, I'll respond to any questions you have. Stuck? Struggling? Need some help with daily momentum, mastery of craft or marketing your book? Let's talk. To register for the call (and get the phone number and ...

EVENTS for WOMBA LITERARY TOUR

Elizabeth Stark — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:25:16 -0700

Word of Mouth Bay Area TOUR EVENTS April 16 Orinda Books On Story and Story Telling Jessica Barksdale Inclan Frances Dinkelspiel Susan Freinkel Michelle Richmond Brenda Webster April 26 Clayton Books Author Festival Jessica Barksdale Inclan Catherine Brady Maria Espinosa May 7 Bookshop West Portal MC: Elizabeth Stark & Joan Gelfand Catherine Brady Dana Fredsti and Cynthia ...

Confessions of a Writing Entrepreneur Mom

Elizabeth Stark — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 09:29:01 -0700

What makes a blog both exciting and dangerous is the immediacy of the format. Confessions, passions and urges are typed onto a little box on a screen, one rectangular button with the corners worn off is clicked with a tap of a key, and those confessions become public. I’m a person with three novel manuscripts waiting perfection. I’m not impulsive about getting my work out before the ...

Face Books: Social Networking in Real Time

Elizabeth Stark — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 11:48:07 -0700

I am excited to announce the WOMBA tour! Word of Mouth Bay Area, an eclectic cadre of local women authors, will be kicking off the very first WOMBA book tour on Thursday, April 16 at Orinda Books at 7 p.m. The tour, Face Books: Social Networking in Real Time, is intended both to bring together Bay Area writers and readers, and to take social networking off the computer and back into the ...