ARCHIVE FOR Behind the Launch Lab: Craft & Commerce

By Katrin Schumann

It’s that time of year again—the trees are greening, blossoms flutter across ice-buckled roads, and The Muse and the Marketplace is over.

Last year, I wrote this advice after the conference. This year, I’m sharing highlights from a panel that reliably produces gems of wisdom: Literary Idol, Fiction

by Katrin Schumann

We’re often told to write no matter what mood we’re in. Just park yourself at your desk and work through whatever fears or boredom you may have. You can’t wait for the Muse to turn up—that’s a sure fire way never to finish your book.

I couldn’t agree more.

What we have to really watch out for, though, is our mood while editing and rewriting. Beware—as in: be very aware of—your mood as you do this work; it will deeply affect the quality of your output.

by Katrin Schumann

It was a snow day yesterday and I binge watched the last half of the final season of Breaking Bad. I know, I know. I'm way late to the game. 

It's been a long time since episodic TV has been so inspiring to me as a storyteller. This show pulled me in and kept me trapped in its vortex for weeks. I was simulatenously glad when I reached the finale (now I get my life back) and devastated (no more Breaking Bad!).

by Katrin Schumann

Writers aren't writers unless they are writing. Most writers (or so I tell myself) have struggled with how to produce work that is meaningful and just keep at it. Day after day. In spite of all the hurdles, imagined and real.

I could write a book about this and maybe one day I will. In the meantime, from one writer to another, let me share some brief thoughts on productivity, in no particular order:

Jane Friedman is in so much trouble. In a recent post, she introduced me to Canva, a design tool. Thanks, Jane. There goes my productivity.

When it comes to work, I am single task and detail oriented to the extreme. When I worked for NPR way back when, I loved splicing actual tape together for broadcasts using an exacto knife