“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 … [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; … [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 … [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 … [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 … [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 … [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! … [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 … [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. … [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 … [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 … [Read more...]
