novels – Confabulator Cafe

In 2012, I Took Every Challenge

Ashley M. Hill - January 11, 2013

From a writing standpoint, 2012 rocked. I sent out a novel for the first time. Even though it got rejected twice, the “revise & resubmit” was pretty much the best thing that could have happened. I finally (finally!) understand passive voice in my writing. I don’t always see it, and I don’t always correct it, […]

When All Is Said & Done

Ashley M. Hill - May 11, 2012

There’s an exact moment when I read something I wrote and I go, “Damn. I am so right for this business.” Or I suppose, more accurately, there are two moments. The first comes during the raw writing process. When everything is still in idea form, and you’re just cruising on the adrenaline of creation going […]

46,000 Words, Give or Take

Ashley M. Hill - April 13, 2012

I used to despair that I would never be a novelist, because I can’t write lengthy, epic novels. And I’m not using despair lightly — we’re talking all the gnashing of teeth and melodrama that comes with being, um, a freshman in high school. Okay, now I don’t even take this story seriously, but hear […]

Exercises in Failure & the Editing Process

Ashley M. Hill - April 6, 2012

I hate editing. I have failed every goal I’ve ever set when editing. I stumble in the same spot every time. It’s not killing my darlings. Whatever, kill those bastards. I never liked them anyway. (Oh my god that’s such a lie, please, come back, babies.) I like going through the novel and finding the […]

Panning for Gold in the Dark

Nancy Cayton Myers - January 27, 2012

A couple of weeks back the fabulous Confabulators weighed in on where their writing ideas come from. I may backtrack a bit over some of that territory, because where they come from seems to be connected to the ideas I end up pursuing past the ‘idea’ stage. Looking back on the thousands of words I’ve […]