Sam J Miller sez, “I just graduated from the amazing Clarion Writer’s Workshop, and transcribed over 300 great pieces of advice and guidance from my instructors and fellow students. I did it for the benefit of myself and my Clarion Comrades, but hoped other folks would find it helpful.”
I’m a Clarion grad, teacher, and board member — I’ll be back teaching next summer, in fact, after a five-year fatherhood hiatus. This is a great collection of the kind of stuff you learn at the workshop.
“A common way to structure stories is: ESTABLISH NORM. UPSET NORM. COMPLICATE & ESCALATE. CLIMAX. RESOLUTION.”
“Whenever you think you’re going to create a really strong character by putting “I” at the beginning of every sentence, you’re digging yourself a hole. It’s actually harder to bring “I” to life.”
“When it’s broken, you don’t always have to fix the whole thing. You can fix half—you just have to know which half. And that’s not always easy.”
“The problem with people is they have beer and they want egg in it. Things are good and they’re unsatisfied.”
“Opening the vein is where the best writing comes from.”
“You have to write things you genuinely are not sure about.”
“Frequently, your back brain is wiser than your front brain.”
“You left yourself a lot of hints that I don’t think you even know about.”
(Thanks, Sam!)
Clarion 2012: Every Brilliant Piece of Writing Advice*