A few useful resources, including the Paris Review interviews
I thought I’d share a few invaluable resources that have helped me throughout the process of my development as an author.
1) Every writer worth her salt should read and learn from the invaluable treasure trove that is the Paris Review’s famous serious of author interviews. Fortunately for us, the reviews have been collected and arranged by decade on the Paris Review’s new website (
www.theparisreview.org). Extending back to the 1950s, the interviews are an embarrassment of riches, featuring in-depth interviews in which authors such as Ralph Ellison, T.S. Elliot, Jorge Luis Borges, and Vladimir Nabokov (among many, many others) open up and discuss the writing process and their understanding of the mechanics and craft of fiction.
2) Based on my own experience, I believe it’s crucial to take the time to have a second pair of eyes read our work critically and offer objective (i.e., not our friends or family members) feedback before we try to publish. I’ve found that working with a professional editor is very helpful as they aren’t afraid to provide a professional and objective reading of your work. Last time I checked the magazine Poets & Writers listed professional editors for hire in the back of the magazine in the advertisement section. I would also highly recommend the online editing company
www.admissionsticket.com which, unlike several other online editing companies I’ve dealt with, has editors who specialize in editing fiction.
3) Speaking of grammar and typos, though it sure can feel like a drag to study grammar, I’ve found that working on the fundamentals of writing good, grammatically correct prose goes a long way in helping me clearly articulate my ideas for stories. Though there are a ton of books on the subject, I’d highly recommend The Only Grammar Book You’ll Ever Need by Susan Thurman. It’s thorough, concise, and extremely helpful.
Alright fearless writers, hope these suggestions are helpful for even one of you. May we all write well and often!
John