As a writer, you often get asked, “What is the one piece of advice you would offer new writers?” The answer to this could be a very, very long list, and some of those answers are shared by many of us—write what you love, just write, write for yourself. All of which are spot on, […]
Continue reading
Recently I spoke with a new-ish writer and their enthusiasm made me nostalgic for a simpler time. A time when the words “THE END” provided a warm, blissful sense of accomplishment, instead of heralding the beginning of the strapping on my work boots and getting dirty with the “real” work of a writer. I see […]
Continue reading
If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times— Writing is a solitary art. Just like a great many artisans, we toil alone. You’ll find many writers hunched over a keyboard, the eerie light of the screen our only form of vitamin D. We tend to mutter to ourselves, have full on conversations/arguments, […]
Continue reading
I had a lovely plan for our traveling circus this year, but that plan was quickly derailed as first one monkey made a break for it with the others quickly following his example. Now they’re running amok leaving my circus a mess. Such is the nature of adulting. The oldest of the Prankster Duo successfully […]
Continue readingFor those who’ve read my books you’ll probably notice I’m a character driven writer. (According to my critique partners, I’m also the queen of sub-plots, but that’s another post.) About 99.9% of the time when I’m playing around with a new story idea, I’m starting with a character, not the world or the plot, but […]
Continue readingIn the wonderfully creative world of writers we are flooded with posts on writing tips, marketing strategies, balancing life with creativity, and nailing those word counts. The amount of positive encouragement is huge, and I’ve always loved the fact that this exists in the writing community. Our ability as writers to constantly offer that nudge […]
Continue readingIt’s NANO time, peeps and we’re a whopping two days in. How’s everyone doing with their word counts? You nailing that 1667 a day thing? You are? Good for you! I’m right there with you, toiling away one word at a time. I figured this would be a good time to share a few survival […]
Continue readingIt’s coming down the pike like a flaming bowling ball of despair and agony–NANOWRIMO! The dreaded month of words guaranteed to send every (to use Chuck Wendig’s moniker) Pen Monkey screaming into the treetops. For those who remain blissfully ignorant of the ruthlessly sadistic reality of Nanowrimo (Nano for those poor mutilated souls left battered […]
Continue readingFunny thing about writers, you can read a collection of words, and if you’re familiar enough with the writer, even without their name appearing anywhere to clue you in, you’ll know it’s them. Why? Because their writing voice is like the dulcet tones of your best friend. For a writer, finding your voice is like […]
Continue readingWhile you’re frantically trying to figure out how to shove that last pair of jeans into an already over-stuffed suitcase, circling around the edges of your mix of excitement and anxiety of attending your upcoming writers conference, is the annoying whisper of, “Am I ready to pitch this?” Before we tackle that question we need […]
Continue reading