The Fart Of Fiction, No. 15

If you happen to stumble on The Art Of Leaving, understand it's a memoir and you're not getting fiction. Often, the highly secretive book goes through numerous working titles. But sometimes, the author hits the jackpot with a book title the publisher can't refuse.

When writing novels, don't worry about the title or genre, or word count after the first draft. Keep writing drafts of a book, but always know when to move on, how to change to a new scene, and add tempo. Raymond Chandler's books accomplish pace effectively. Trainspotting is a model for a book with a shock that makes you turn the page. If you really want a page-turner in a story, include action. House of Sand and Fog has a great pace, however, the ending might leave you disappointed.

Keep writing. Finish what you start. Leave Seattle after finishing the sonnet. Leave Rome after finishing the free verse poem. Leave Los Cabos after finishing the short story. Don't dare leave a writing conference in Windsor until a flash fiction piece is done. Finish a second or third novel.

I had many good visits in Seattle and took great pictures, but I never learned the art of leaving.