Staff Spotlight: Carin Clevidence
Posted by David Duhr in 
It’s always refreshing to hear an accomplished writer tell the truth about how difficult this writing thing is. “I find all of writing hard!” says WriteByNight’s newest writing coach and consultant, Carin Clevidence. That honesty is one of the attributes that drew us to Carin. She doesn’t pretend to have rolled right out of bed and written a book.
Though she has written a book, of course. In coverage of The House on Salt Hay Road, published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux, Carin is described as having “a gift for creating images that express the unspeakable” (New York Times) and being “a breathtaking new American voice” (Jhumpa Lahiri).
Carin is a big believer in the efficacy of revision and going through multiple drafts. “I like getting at the heart of the story,” she says, “which isn’t always evident in the first draft or two.
“Write when you can,” she continues, “and expect to go through many drafts.”
(For what it’s worth, this is my second draft of this post.)
Personal experience is another key aspect of writing for Carin. “I love helping people write the stories they’re compelled by,” she says, “and I also find that the things we take for granted about our own experiences are often more interesting than we think.”
A graduate of Oberlin (B.A.) and the University of Michigan (MFA), Carin now lives in Northampton, Massachusetts, where she continues to sharpen her skills. “I think as a writer you have to be very stubborn, and also very patient,” she says. “It takes a long time to master the craft.”
If you’re interested in having Carin Clevidence help you master the craft, request a free consult today.
To learn more about Carin, take a peek at this Q&A.
WriteByNight is a writers’ service dedicated to helping you achieve your creative potential and literary goals. We work with writers of all experience levels working in all genres, nationwide and worldwide. If you have a 2016 writing project that you’d like a little help with, take a look at our book coaching, private instruction and writer’s block counseling services. Join our mailing list and get a FREE writer’s diagnostic, “Common problems and SOLUTIONS for the struggling writer.”