“Don’t scorn the word: Poets, the world is noisy and silent, only God speaks.” —Antonio Machado Pornography, Shamanic Healing, & Language-Based Reality “Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.” —E.L. Doctorow In 1992, or so the story goes, Giacomo Rizzolatti and a team of neuroscientists accidentally discovered mirror neurons while experimenting on … [Read more...]
Six steps to deal with literary rejections
Whether we like it or not, ever so often, like an unwelcome houseguest, rejections creep upon us. It doesn’t matter where you are in your writing career or the number of books you have published; rejections lurk around us writers like shadows. Even after having nine books in the market, every time that I receive a rejection letter, it hurts and stinks. That said, no one … [Read more...]
Kerouac Before the Jazz: a review of “The Haunted Life”
There are some great lost manuscripts in American literature and some are truly lost. Ernest Hemingway famously lost the only draft of the first short stories he ever wrote on a French train. Most writers have "lost" manuscripts, conspicuously placed in quotes because those stories for whatever reason the writer has are socked away until after their deaths (interestingly, … [Read more...]
Reflections of a Writer
In 2012, for NaNoWriMo, which is an annual (November) novel writing project that brings together professional and amateur writers from all over the world, I commenced work on my third novel. I honestly had no desire of doing so because in the 1st week of November 2012, I had a book launch. My nonfiction book, Mouth Full, was scheduled for release at the South Asian Literary … [Read more...]
Why multi-genre writing rocks!
During the week of June 14-17, I was fortunate enough to win a scholarship to attend the Wesleyan Writers’ Conference. It is a program that offers the opportunity for people to meet fellow writers and learn from some of the best in the field, and I was ecstatic. But a dear friend, who is privy to my day-to-day madness, asked me, “Do you have any energy left to participate in a … [Read more...]
How to write an excellent book review query
So, your book is finished and you need to get the word out. You've found some book reviewers who you'd like to email. You're hoping they'll accept a copy of your book for possible review. But here's where it can get kind of tricky. Those reviewers are busy, and more likely to say "yes" if you approach them in the right way. Here's how to do that: 1. Start with the … [Read more...]
10 public speaking tips for writers
Writers often work in solitude. But when it's time to do a reading or a book signing, or to give a presentation or speech, you're no longer in your own environment, and the nerves can really kick in! Do you dread public speaking? Here's how to alleviate anxiety when you find yourself in the spotlight. 1. Don't depend upon electronic devices. Preparing your notes on a … [Read more...]
The one thing an author should never, ever do.
I'm a reviewer. I hang out on message boards frequented by other reviewers. One popular topic on these message boards is that of authors who comment on reviews of their books. Almost all reviewers agree that authors shouldn't ever do it, and when it happens, someone often links to the site where it's going down, so we can all go over and see how badly everyone behaved. … [Read more...]
7 Examples of Constrained Writing
Constrained writing has drawn both glowing support and vehement opposition. Some claim it to be an evocative demonstration of the notion that less is more. Others see it as a cheap parlor trick that limits expression and creates a screen for hack writers to hide behind. In any case, it became a recognized literary movement (‘The Oulipo Movement’) in 1960s France, and has … [Read more...]
Poetry Careers – Can You Make Money With Poetry?
Poets new to publishing sometimes ask how to get paid for publishing their poetry, and how to make a living as a poet. The answer, in a nutshell, is: you don't. Writing poetry is very rewarding, but not usually in monetary ways. Even the best-known poets typically also teach, work in the publishing industry, journalism, or in some other field. What do poetry … [Read more...]
Authors Copyright and Permissions
For some reason, Empty Mirror receives a fair amount of email from folks looking for contact information for particular writers. On occasion those searching for copyright permissions inquire as well. Below you'll find advice on locating writers, poets, their estates and copyright holders. Finding an Author One of the best sources for locating living authors is the Poets … [Read more...]
The Lowdown on Copyright for Poets and Writers
What you need to know about copyrights: [Please note - I am not an attorney, and the information presented here has been gathered from a number of sources. I am talking here about copyright practices in the US & Canada. If you would like legal advice, or live somewhere else, you'll want to look up the copyright laws & practices for your country or consult an … [Read more...]
17 Syllables: The Death of Traditional Haiku
Recently, I came across a poetry site touting the virtues of the winning work of a Haiku contest. The "Haiku" in question was an ode to the writer's car. Something small but vitally important died within my soul. In our fast-paced society brevity is king. Texting has replaced conversation, microwaves have replaced ovens, tweeting has replaced letters. It's no surprise … [Read more...]
Constrained Writing Techniques
Constrained writing can produce some unexpected results. In my recent experimenting with language and poetry, I remembered some of the Surrealist/Dadaist techniques I’d learned in my youth, and added a few updates of my own. Found Poetry The site Creative-writing-now.com has a pretty interesting explanation of Found Poetry: A found poem uses language from non-poetic … [Read more...]
