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Category Archives: Essays
Make sure you have a walking stick
Writing is a bit of a psych game, as I’ve learned. With the publication of “Duck Boy” I’ve rollercoastered up and down the hills of opinion, and lots of people who have ideas about how valuable and well-written it is. … Continue reading
Posted in advice, Essays, fiction, non-fiction, Writing advice, Writing process, Young Adult
Tagged coping with reviews, criticisim, critics, ducks in a row, reviews, support, writing advice
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Are we becoming a writing culture?
(I included this picture because it makes the post that much more interesting, right? Plus it’s moody and foreboding, don’t you think?) As we ponder the future of the book and what it means to publish in these changing times, … Continue reading
Report, mid book tour
I’ve now been in the Los Angeles area for a few days and am getting the hang of the book tour thing. It’s been extremely pleasant. Days are spent wandering around hanging out at cafes, with patches of good discussion … Continue reading
Posted in Essays, fiction, non-fiction, Writing advice, Writing process, Young Adult
Tagged bil bunn, bitingduck press, book marketing, book publicity, book reading, book tour, Century books, flintridge bookstore and coffeehouse, marketing, publicity, reading, webster's fine stationers
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You’re the biggest tool (in the writing process): Part two
You still are the biggest tool around, when it comes to the writing process. As I’ve been suggesting, one of the most critical pieces of writing successfully is figuring out how you like to write. I can’t really tell you … Continue reading
You’re the biggest tool (in the writing process): Part one
Lots of folks think that the most important thing about writing is having a laptop or a pen, or something. But the biggest part of the writing process is what you bring — you are the biggest tool! So, you … Continue reading
Posted in Essays, fiction, non-fiction, Writing process, Young Adult
Tagged Adam McLean, Alchemy, Book, creative process, messy writer, Middle school, process, tool, writer as tool, writer's tools, writing process
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I make a mess when I write. How about you?
There are many ways to write a book. When I first had the idea to write a novel, I spent a little time researching how to write a novel. Lots of people have lots of ideas. A number of people … Continue reading
Posted in advice, Essays, fiction, non-fiction, Writing advice, Writing process, Young Adult
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Keep your space messy!
I’m a firm believer in keeping a messy work space, and collecting stuff. Anything that’s of any interest of all gets kept somewhere. So my desk is a jumble of memories, artwork, books, books, books, junk and notes I’ve jotted … Continue reading
Posted in advice, Essays, fiction, non-fiction, Writing advice, Writing process, Young Adult
Tagged Adam McLean, Alchemy, Book, creative mess, creative process, messy writer, Middle school, writing process
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Duck Boy Alchemy
The impetus for Duck Boy started many years ago when I was in middle school. I found middle school years were the toughest I’d ever known. A lot of the difficulties I had during those years I carried around for … Continue reading
Posted in advice, Essays, fiction, non-fiction, Writing advice, Writing process, Young Adult
Tagged Adam McLean, Alchemy, gold, Middle school, rumplestiltskin, straw, writing as alchemy
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