Words Fly Up

Books and writing are the core of my life. I edit books, write books, and teach writing. I love this work, and will be happy to provide any editorial or writing service you need.
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March 16, 2024 By Elizabeth Leave a Comment

Words Matter

“I tore the couch apart and vacuumed up all the crumbs, and five minutes later the kids are sitting there pounding down chips.” So said the woman beside me in the hair salon. She certainly caught my attention with her opening remark: I tore the couch apart. Why would anyone do that? I wondered. Ah, to vacuum. But then the kids are pounding chips. Her word choices suggested that a battle raged … [Read more...]

Filed Under: The Writing Process, Writing Tips Tagged With: character, create, description, setting, writing, writing tips

December 15, 2023 By Elizabeth Leave a Comment

Writing Advice, Le Guin and Woolf

Create a Wave

When successful writers write books on how to write, the books tend to be one of two kinds: actual how-to books or how-I-did-it books. I find the former highly useful, and many of them have sat on the bookcase in my office for years, frequently revisited for use in my classes. But the latter tend to be much more interesting. Students and clients alike often cite Stephen King’s On Writing as their … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Books I recommend, The Writing Process, What I Read, Writing Tips Tagged With: books, rhythm, teaching, words, writers, writing, writing tips

August 9, 2023 By Elizabeth 1 Comment

Favorite Quotes

During a recent class, I discussed rhythm, starting with a passage from Ursula Le Guin’s excellent Steering the Craft, and moving on to Virginia Woolf’s equally excellent explanation: “Style is a very simple matter; it is all rhythm. Once you get that, you can’t use the wrong words.” Simple, right? I then read aloud one of my favorite examples of style/rhythm/right words. It’s three paragraphs … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Books I recommend, The Writing Process, What I Read, What the Teacher Learned in Class, Writing Tips Tagged With: books, reading list, rhythm, style, writing, writing tips

April 2, 2021 By Elizabeth Leave a Comment

“I’m Doing the Best I Can”

For my birthday last year, a friend gave me a book, one that I probably would not have bought for myself because it’s a memoir. I don’t tend to read memoirs. But I loved the title: All the Way to the Tigers. Who wouldn’t be intrigued? And the author’s name rang a bell—Mary Morris. I checked to see what else she had written and recalled that many years ago, I had read one or two of her novels. So, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: The Writing Process, What I Read, Writing Tips Tagged With: art, goals, memoir, perfection, writing, writing tips

July 18, 2020 By Elizabeth Leave a Comment

The Creative Walk

I walk. It's a defining characteristic, a must-do every day. These are not long walks, they rarely qualify as hikes, but for me a walk is frequently--maybe always--a creative walk. I read this article about walking about a year ago. I nodded in agreement through most of it, but was certainly surprised to learn all that was happening in my brain as I walked. What did not surprise me were the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: The Writing Process Tagged With: birds, books, create, creativity, walk, writing

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