A story works when there's momentum, life behind the words. Some stories have this and others don't, and it's difficult to say why this is. If all stories "worked," though, writing wouldn't be much of a challenge; it wouldn't be… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
I think training your instinct comes from writing and reading. There's no big secret. And reading slush helps, as well; I'd recommend everyone edit… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
It's something that's difficult to explain but I think all writers work this way to some extent, whether we're aware of it or not. For me, writing has little to do with thinking. I don't want to control the narrative. I listen to the rhythm of the words and dialogue and try to give the characters the space in which… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share
There are many stories I've wanted to write that I'm simply not able to - sometimes I haven't found the way in yet, and… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
I've learned so much from my professors and have been fortunate to have had so many good ones, including Frederick and Steven Barthelme, Edward… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
I think there simply comes a point at which you're beating your head against the wall with revision, when you're making something different but… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
I suppose this is, essentially, my perspective on life. Just because we've made mistakes and learned things from them intellectually doesn't mean we won't… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
I've learned a lot about language from reading slush. You can immediately tell if a writer is in control of the narrative. This writer will avoid using too many words like "possibly," "probably," "maybe," "perhaps," etc. He/she will avoid using clichés, as well as a lot of metaphors, and won't take four sentences to say what they could in one… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share
I wish I knew exactly who I was. I was talking to a friend earlier about the advice people give each other, advice like… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
It's definitely about the rhythm of the words and how they sound together, writing one sentence and then another and another and cutting something… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
I don't know what people want, really. Does somebody have to die? What is meant by resolution? These are questions that I don't quite know what to do with. That being said, I did want the characters to be changed by the end of the book. But will what they've gone through alter their lives from this point forward, i.e.… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share
Making all of those words work together is difficult. It took a lot of cleaning up, a lot of rewriting scenes in order to… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
I want to be able to discuss craft but I also want to teach writers to trust their instincts and learn to listen to… — Mary J. Miller Copy Share Image
