I made this bonkers existential timeline inspired by a flower clock. — Through one rabbit hole or other, I recently discovered Carl Linnaeus’ notion of the horologium florae, or flower clock, which was based around the idea that different species of flowers opened at different times of day — sometimes at very precise times — and theoretically you could create a functional…

It has to do with treating reality as a dreamscape. — I was elbowing my way through Grand Central Station, early for the tour. An idiosyncratic tour guide (and hero of mine) was returning to New York City to guide people through his observations of the venerable train station, and I’d raced to make my reservation, afraid it’d be sold out…

A roundtable interview offered several craft insights. — “Just because you shot Jesse James, don’t make you Jesse James…” I recently rewatched “Breaking Bad,” the TV show that famously bucked the culture of “enforced stasis” and plotted an epic character change over five seasons, in this case turning “Mr. Chips into Scarface” in the formulation of the creator…

Understanding how space is allocated will tighten up your story — “How’s it going with that new person you’ve been seeing?” my friend asked a while back. “What’s it been, like three dates now?” “Yeah…OK, I think?” He asked to glance at the text conversation and scrolled up a few times with his thumb. “You’re not even reading it!” I said. …

And other lessons I learned from titling my book. — A title works hard for you; it’s a first impression, an advertisement, an earworm, an instruction, an invitation. Especially with book titles, there’s a lot of pressure on your choice, so it’s wise to prepare for a bit of an odyssey as you sift through different ideas. Don’t worry if…

The movies, music, and books that informed my debut collection. — No book is an island—each is made of more than our experience and imagination and sentences. Books emerge out of other books and influences that help provide a template or guide or inspiration or peer or parent. Some influences are more direct and others are subtle, but knowing what works…

Writers can hone their observational skills and pluck material. — A woman I know who lost most of her sight once told me that everyone has what she called a “giveaway.” A tip-off to clue her in that they were there before they’d announced themselves. One person has a heavy walker, another is always doused in cologne, some people just…

If handled honestly, it leaves room for revealing speculation — This story is behind Medium’s membership paywall, which means the writer earns through our Partner Program. To become a Medium member, click here. Specifics are crucial to making a story come alive, so it can seem like there is no greater sin for a memoirist than failing to remember a…

You’ll end up with a valuable writing tool. — “He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary.” — Faulkner (about Hemingway) “Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words?” — Hemingway (about Faulkner) Using big words is not a shortcut to good writing. But being smitten…