An Imprint of Skywater Publishing Company
by Dominic Ward The re-write begins with an overall assessment of the first draft. The first draft will be rubbish, make no mistake. It will be largely untenable. This is not a problem. For now you can begin to focus your vision on the small parts that make up the whole, and by this I [...]
(It’s time to continue Dominic Ward’s series on the creation process; this is article three) The subject of this essay is the first draft of the manuscript. Having conceptualized the work, mapped it out, and researched its subject matter, it is now time to turn to the dull and painful task of writing. There is [...]
by Dominic Ward Planning a work is a vital step in the process of writing. Many writers simply choose to neglect this stage, allowing the form of their work to build up around them. It is rumoured that Stephen King wrote in this manner, just jumping in at the deep end and learning the book [...]
Technology and Writing: Intro Last month I began a discussion on writing and technology, and ways to use technology for writing purposes beyond simple self promotion. First, I’d like to tackle Twitter. For the most part, I’m annoyed by people’s uses of Twitter, posting the inane details of their lives from random thoughts about life [...]
by Dominic Ward (part 1 was published in January) Style is the ingredient added at the conceptual stage of a work that makes or breaks the whole enterprise. Some writers emphasis style more than others, which is just a come-on. Style is inherent to a work, whether you talk about it at your book launch [...]
A while back, a friend and I were discussing ways in which we could use technologies like blogs and Twitter for writing purposes. And we were implying uses beyond just having a blog to promote ourselves or using Twitter to detail the minute happenings of our writing lives. We wanted to use technology to enhance [...]
by Dominic Ward Although it is certainly true that every writer may have his or her own method of writing, it is, of course, only the end product that really counts. Graham Greene may have forced himself through five hundred words every morning and two tabs of codeine washed down with strong coffee, Flaubert may [...]
by Roy A. Barnes There’s an old saying that goes, “You have to play the hand you’re dealt.” I was born with Asperger’s Syndrome, a neuro-biological condition that is considered a high-functioning form of autism. It affects my dexterity, how I take in the environment around me, and makes it challenging for me to relate [...]
I regret not being quicker to the punch, so as to folks let know about it beforehand, but I didn’t hear about this event until today, on NPR, so here’s the break down . . . the Open Book in downtown Minneapolis held an event tonight hosted by Todd Boss. It’s started with a performance [...]
by Karen Pfeil There’s something about libraries that’s good for writers. Roy A. Barnes reminds us of this in a recent posting when he advises writing at college libraries to combat writer’s block. His advice reminded me of my own affinity for the public library, and how in my most fertile writing phases, I am a [...]
