Writing is Like Scratching an Itch That Never Goes Away

Many writers make all sorts of analogies about the process of finishing a manuscript. It’s like fighting dragons, we say. Or birthing babies. Or combating venereal disease you picked up from a love one that you now want to spread to your unsuspecting readers. We laugh about the tears and the blood and the existential …

Book Ratings, Reviews, and Why I Suck At Them

I‘ve spent the last few months having back and forth discussions about reviewing books, and have come to the conclusion that the conversation frustrates me. Not because I don’t enjoy it or it’s not interesting to me, but because it always, invariably, becomes a discussion on craft from my part. Which means I’m going to …