Two Songbirds Press

March 19, 2013
by queenofbirdpress
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AWP Boston 2013, take aways from the panels

Using Careless Speech for Careful Writing. Peter Elbow’s new book, Vernacular Eloquence: What Speech Can Bring to Writing, was the impetus for this Day One 9 am panel. Elbow talked about intonation units in speech and how the musicality of … Continue reading

February 25, 2013
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What to do when you’ve finished your revisions…

 Put your manuscript in a drawer.  Write your next novel. With experience comes …well, experience. Oh, and wisdom. Did you know that “debut” fiction that we see in the catalogues of the big publishers are rarely the first novel that … Continue reading

January 14, 2013
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Effective Critique: Avoiding dogma and snobbery

Professor Doug Rice, author of Dream Memoirs of a Fabulist and A Good Cuntboy is Hard to Find, (and more) was the second reader for my graduate thesis and a remarkable teacher of the craft of writing. One assignment from my … Continue reading

August 21, 2012
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Checking in with the blogosphere

As part of my ongoing professional development, every day I check in with a handful of writers in the blogosphere-mostly via RSS feed, a few notices via e-mail. I am so impressed by the high value of the information being … Continue reading

April 21, 2012
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The Perfect Client

The perfect client reads as well as writes.  The perfect client has done his or her research on editing and writing, is a good listener, and is willing to pay a professional rate for the professional services requested.  The perfect client … Continue reading

March 17, 2012
by queenofbirdpress
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Here’s a great event for Sacto locals, and advice for all: Never Stop Seeking Knowledge

Today’s California Writers Club meeting, from 11-1  is  a panel discussion: Show, Don’t Tell and Rework, Reuse, Resell When is exposition your best choice for revealing information? What are other options and how do you choose? This is a subject relevant … Continue reading

February 28, 2012
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San Francisco Writers follow up

After spending the weekend with a wide representation of the writing and publishing community, I am more excited than ever to be a part of it.  The SFWC has changed form even in the short time that I’ve been involved … Continue reading

February 8, 2012
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Editing, writing, digital publishing, from textbooks to fiction, meetings and events…

This has been a wonderfully busy first quarter, with a cornucopia of activities to keep me sharp. The Nor Cal EFA hosted speaker Judith Horstman in January, and she provided the participants with insider information about writing for magazines and … Continue reading

December 14, 2011
by queenofbirdpress
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Why a self-publisher needs an editor: Other uses for an editor

Developmental edits. Substantive edits. Line edits.  A self-publisher could use professional assistance in all of these areas.  There are other uses for an editor as well.      

November 30, 2011
by queenofbirdpress
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Why you need an editor: Developmental and Substantive Editing

We believe we know everything there is to know about our characters. We believe we have created a compelling read, a clear conflict, characters the reader can either love or fear for, a satisfying resolution.  But the problem is, we’re … Continue reading