Writer Ellen Morris Prewitt Blog

Word to the Wise: Pay Attention to Your Beta Readers

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on February 5, 2014. Posted in General. 3 Comments on Word to the Wise: Pay Attention to Your Beta Readers

Three years ago, or maybe four, a man I did not know arrived at my writing group, and during a long conversation about the first chapter of The Bone Trench, he said, “I’m ready to see Cat Thomas return.” I assured him Cat, who opened the novel in a brief scene, would be back shortly, specifically at the beginning of the next...

Redeeming the Synopsis

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on February 4, 2014. Posted in General. 6 Comments on Redeeming the Synopsis

I know you hate it, but consider writing a synopsis of your novel. Not to accompany a submission to an agent—usually the only reason any of us take on this mind-stupefying task. Do it to see the holes in your manuscript. Like many, I have long hated the idea that in order to gain agency representation, the writer had to reduce her 80,000 word...

I Remember the Dancing Samoans

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on February 3, 2014. Posted in General. 2 Comments on I Remember the Dancing Samoans

I think too much from the spot I stand in. So when I watched the Coke commercial during the Superbowl and felt tears start in my eyes, it never dawned on me people would complain. Calling the commercial names, some much worse than un-American. At best, divisive. To put this in perspective, my favorite physical metaphor of community is the San...

When Following the Money is a Good Thing

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on February 3, 2014. Posted in General. 4 Comments on When Following the Money is a Good Thing

My last blog post left several people wondering, what did Utah do? The state examined the amount of money homelessness was costing the state and implemented a “housing first” program that gives supportive housing to those who have experienced homelessness for an extended period and have a disabling condition. You can read more about...

Why Utah Set Me Off

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on January 31, 2014. Posted in General. 7 Comments on Why Utah Set Me Off

I want housing for the homeless to be designed by men and women who have been homeless. I want us to ask: where would be most convenient for you? What do you want in terms of size? What community space do you want? Do you want a front porch? I want us to care enough to design space useful to people instead of putting folks in available apartments...

The End of Revision

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on January 29, 2014. Posted in General. 4 Comments on The End of Revision

I’ve been living in the guts of the story I wrote like a surgeon grasping the beating heart, it pumps in rubbered gloves, to repair it and, now out, I’m lost, wandering in the real world.

16 Truths about Revision

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on January 27, 2014. Posted in General. 7 Comments on 16 Truths about Revision

Things I have re-learned from this round of revision on The Bone Trench, my manuscript about Mother Mary and Jesus called back Memphis by a private prison project: Description must flow from the character observing it Description works best when in motion (e.g. She wore a tight skirt vs Her tight skirt tugged as she bent to pick up the skull) Too...

The Slant of the Poet

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on January 26, 2014. Posted in General. 1 Comment on The Slant of the Poet

Sometimes, poetry has to teach you how to read it. Valeriu DG Barbu’s poetry at his blog http://valeriudgbarbu.wordpress.com is like that. Poet, writer, and playwright of Romanian origin settled in Rome, Italy, Mr. Barbu writes in English, Italian, and Romanian. I love the unpredictable imagery in his work, the sudden change in direction. Each...

The Allure of Normal

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on January 22, 2014. Posted in General. 7 Comments on The Allure of Normal

Some blogs I’m drawn to because, like me, they are so odd. I like Luanne because she is so normal. Luanne Castle blogs at writersite.org. Her blog has been featured on Freshly Pressed, quite an achievement. Yet she responds to every comment posted on the blog, responses that actually engage the commentator in conversation about the issue she’s...

As I Write, I Will Weep

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on January 18, 2014. Posted in General. 2 Comments on As I Write, I Will Weep

She was no more than four years old, black-headed and petite, a land-based water bug. We were at the beach, a place where she absorbed comfort from her mom and grandmother and whole entire family. She took my hand and led me onto the sand. The moon shone above. Otherwise, the night was dense, dark, the sand itself invisible. She, with more courage...