Writer's Voices

Connection is why we’re here. We are hard-wired to connect with others, it’s what gives purpose and meaning to our lives.

Remember yesterday, dream for tomorrow and live for today.

I’m the kind of writer that writes sentence by sentence, paragraph by paragraph. I don’t do a first draft and then go back and rewrite it. I’m constantly composing and revising at the same time.

(Douglas Autry) saw a lot of action (in WWI), he saw a lot of death, and I think somewhere in the midst of all that horror, the color of people began to make no difference to him whatsoever.

If I stick to just improving education for the students and keeping the peace in the schools, those are the two most important things I can do.

The times in my life when I’ve evolved and changed and grown the most are the times when I’ve suffered.

Whoever uses the spirit that is in him creatively is an artist. To make living itself an art, that is the goal.

Every technology that we’ve developed creates a whole plethora of new remedial technologies that have to make up for the problems caused by the previous technology.

Neanderthal man listened to stories, if one may judge by the shape of his skull.

In this conversation, we talk about why short story writing is a great way to learn the craft of fiction writing, the difference between teaching and writing, and between young adult and adult fiction, and how getting an MFA changed Heather’s life. Also, what it takes to put together a short story collection wherein every sentence has to work on three levels – advancing the story (plot), advancing the message (theme) and advancing the collection.

“Lyrics for Rock Stars” is the winner of the V Press LC Compilation Book Prize.

Everybody approaches writing differently. You have to figure out what works for you. But the number one thing that has been my lesson throughout it all is to learn patience. Not only with yourself, but with the story and the process. Really listen to what the story wants to be about, and what the characters need to have happen. That’s a hard place to get to, to be able to step back and let those things happen. You have to stay with the scene.

Colorado has always been a good place to find what you’re made of.

Sometimes when you start out to find someone from your past, you also find yourself, your true self.

“I love history. I love finding out the details of everyday life from an era I don’t know about. So it really is a gift, it think, when I find out about an event… that I didn’t know about and I can craft a story around it.” Liza Nash Taylor gives us a glimpse into Read More

We cannot live in the past, it is doesn’t hurt to visit there sometimes, in fact it can be enjoyable.