The secret to writing successful fiction

Most Thursday nights you'll find me in front of the TV watching The Writing Life and Writers' Confessions on Bravo. I never get tired of listening to novelists and poets talk about their writing stations, the approach they take to their work, or the idiosyncratic behaviour specific to writers.

Since I read primarily Canadian novelists, I am always thrilled to be introduced to someone whose work I haven't read. Last week, I was introduced to Douglas Glover. He was featured for the full 30-minute episode and he said something that gave me one of those shivery "aha" moments Oprah's always going on about.

I wrote Mr. Glover an email to thank him for sharing the insight of his experience because it was powerful, unique, and bang-on. But, unlike the "gratitude correspondence" I've sent to other writers and artists, I held off this time because even after three or four tries, I still came off sounding a bit like a babbling fool.

[I wrote on the subject on October 11 & 16: - Thank You Notes i/ii and ii/ii.]

So, to Douglas Glover for relaying one of the secrets of successful fiction writing: Thank you.

Ube, quo, unde.

Cheers!