K. Marvin Bruce

There are lots and lots of writing “help” websites out there.  Some have useful advice and others are just discussions made by those of us lost in the fast-changing world of publishing.  Blind leading the blind. One of my social networks hosts a group for writers that I joined some time ago.  Like most social networks I have very little time actually to spend on the site—I wouldn’t get any writing done if I put time into website browsing.  Nevertheless, when a topic of importance comes up I read a little. The other day a contributor asked my perennial question: how do you know if your writing is good?  Those of us who are introspective ask that constantly.  We know the inherent paradox—we like our own writing, but we’re not objective readers, are we? Like most writers I write something and love it.  Then I hate it.  Then I’m not sure.  Some of the responses to this post reflected that.  Most wanted to give advice, and frankl...

As the author of six novels (none published) Banned Book Week, which begins tomorrow, always has a special appeal.  People have been writing for over four thousand years, and it might seem that there’s little left to say that won’t offend someone.  So I celebrated Banned Book Week with abandon. There’s no official “western canon” of banned books.  Suffice it to say that if you have a favorite, it’s probably on somebody’s list.  Although we gladly watch televisions shows frothing over with sex and violence, if you try to put it in a book, someone will object.  Loudly. Many cultural heroes, of the literary sort, have spent a stint or two on the banned book lists.  We feel that our children shouldn’t read such things.  They might act out the violence or adult situations and who’s going to clean up after all that?  It is easier to prevent them reading. I recall RIF.  Reading Is Fundamental.  It was a program in full swing when I...