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Barbara DeMarco-Barrett

I host "Writers on Writing," podcast wherever you get your podcast and on www.penonfire.com. My first book, Pen on Fire (originally published by Harcourt; reprinted by Mars Street Press). Short stories USA noir: Best of the Akashic Noir Series, Coolest American Stories, 2023, Rock and a Hard Place, Literary Hatchet, and more. My most recent book is Palm Springs Noir (Akashic), which I edited and contributed a story to. I teach at Gotham Writers Workshop, Saddleback College's Emeritus Institute, and privately. My last published short story, "Rowboat," (Kelp Journal, Dec. 2023) was nominated for a Pushcart Prize.


“Rituals help us change modes.”
Barbara DeMarco-Barrett
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“When you travel with your family, you may not get the volume of work done you would if you were alone, but you can still do something while recharging. If nothing else, you can gather your own thoughts, write down ideas, observe people around you, and reflect on experiences. Working doesn't always mean putting words on paper.”
Barbara DeMarco-Barrett
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“Sound is so important to creative writing. Think of the sounds you hear that you include and the similes you use to describe what things sound like. 'As she walked up the alley, her polyester workout pants sounded like windshield wipers swishing back and forth.' Cadence, onomatopoeia, the poetry of language are all so important. Learn all that you can about how to bring sound into your work.”
Barbara DeMarco-Barrett
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“Ron Carlson says, 'The most undervalued craft device that fiction writers need is empathy. You need to be able to actually imagine what your characters are going through. You've got to stay close. When you're in a story and dealing with people you're not certain of, or you've just come to meet because they've stepped into your story, it's very important to go slow and sit in their chair.' As Carlson also says, you don't have to love the people or the characters you write about, but they should be at least as smart as you. Look beyond stereotypes.”
Barbara DeMarco-Barrett
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