Happy Halloween! As I write this post, two of my kids sit in the living room hunched over piles of candy like dragons hoarding treasure. I suppose it was hard-earned--it's 34 degrees outside and pouring rain and sleet. The third kid should be home from his party soon, and then the candy exchange will begin … Continue reading Writing Updates Plus Giveaways
General Writing
Four Easy Ways to Improve Your Writing NOW
Writing can be quite the roller coaster. Some days the words flow off your fingertips, you love your characters, and you can picture your book lined up with the other bestsellers in Barnes and Noble. Other days, you just want to set your laptop on fire and find something to do with your spare time … Continue reading Four Easy Ways to Improve Your Writing NOW
RWA 2019: A Michigander in Times Square
Wow, friends, what a month it's been. I take that back--what a year it's been so far! Now that I'm home from my adventure to New York City for the Romance Writers of America® national conference, I figured it's time to share some of the excitement with you. This conference was both my first RWA … Continue reading RWA 2019: A Michigander in Times Square
How I Signed with My Literary Agent
It’s been a crazy couple of weeks around here! Come to think of it, it’s been a crazy year so far. First the book deal, and then the Golden Heart® final, and now I'm thrilled to share that I’ve signed with a fantastic literary agent. Way back when I was still querying (you know, like … Continue reading How I Signed with My Literary Agent
A Story’s Story
Hello, friends! Has spring arrived in your neck of the woods yet? We've hit daytime highs in the 60s finally, and my tulips have dared to show their pretty heads. While this fine weather does beckon me outside, I'm still hard at work on new manuscripts. Can't live off the glory of one (almost) published … Continue reading A Story’s Story
Rekindling Your Passion for Writing: Part Two
Hi friends! In my last post, we talked about how sometimes, as creatives, our passion for our work can mysteriously evaporate. But when we dig deeper, we can usually find a reason for our sudden lack of enthusiasm. Losing your passion for writing is only a symptom of a problem, and if you can figure … Continue reading Rekindling Your Passion for Writing: Part Two
Rekindling Your Passion for Writing: Part One
Blessed quiet fills the house, broken only by the soft whisper of flames in the gas fireplace and the hiss of the tea kettle in the kitchen. I pull out my laptop, ready for the smooth feel and steady clicking of the keys beneath my fingers. It's 9 PM at my house, and my kids … Continue reading Rekindling Your Passion for Writing: Part One
Create Your Own Newsletter with Mailchimp: The Basics
Well, friends, I'm pleased to report that instead of putting it off for most of 2019, I decided to tackle one of this year's toughest goals head-on: creating my author newsletter. Most people in the publishing world will tell you there are couple of things you have to have in today's digital age if you … Continue reading Create Your Own Newsletter with Mailchimp: The Basics
Diving Deep Into Third Person Point of View
Have you gotten feedback from readers, agents, or editors telling you they can't connect with your story? Or that you're doing too much telling instead of showing? Or maybe they can't tell what your characters want? While a variety of problems can lead to this sort of feedback, one thing definitely will--using distant third person … Continue reading Diving Deep Into Third Person Point of View
What I Learned From My First NaNoWriMo
Hear that whooshing sound? Kind of like an Amtrak train speeding through the countryside? That was the month of November hurtling past in a blaze of turkey and pumpkin pie-filled glory. November was also a month full of words--a little over 50,000, to be more precise--because wonder of wonders, I not only survived my first … Continue reading What I Learned From My First NaNoWriMo
