Hello, 2021! Today is January 1, the time of new beginnings, where we shout "good riddance" to 2020 and look forward to the new year with bright stars in our eyes. Even though today is all about fresh starts, I'm going to get all wild and crazy and talk about endings instead. Because isn't that … Continue reading Planting Seeds of Victory
General Writing
The Traveling Writer – Tips for Crafting Believable Settings
For me, traveling is part of the job of being a writer. (Hello, tax deductions... 😉 ) Not only because vacations are refreshing to the mind and spirit, but also because they help me create a storehouse of places and experiences to draw upon when I'm brainstorming and writing. While I appreciate facts and accuracy … Continue reading The Traveling Writer – Tips for Crafting Believable Settings
Pre-planning Your Novel with Pinterest and Excel
Hey friends! I'm sorry I've been MIA for a so long (*hangs head in shame*). After the eternal length of spring, summer has been a whirlwind. My family took a socially-distanced three week camping trip out west in July and visited seven national parks. The hiking was glorious--we could almost pretend life was normal! I'll … Continue reading Pre-planning Your Novel with Pinterest and Excel
Four Tips for Staying Creative During Tough Times
Hello, friends! I apologize for the lengthy absence--yikes, six weeks since my last post. I didn't drop off the face of the earth, I promise. If you read my last blog post, you know we've been battling illness at our house along with the standard sudden pandemic lockdown and homeschooling turmoil. As you may have … Continue reading Four Tips for Staying Creative During Tough Times
How to Make Your Opening Pages Stand Out
Whether you're prepping to query agents, planning to submit to a small press, or aiming to self-publish, the quality of your opening pages is crucial to your manuscript's success. When an agent sits down with your query, they're giving you minutes, maybe even seconds, to hook them so deeply they simply must keep reading. And … Continue reading How to Make Your Opening Pages Stand Out
Writing the Redemption Arc: A Case Study
*SPOILER WARNING* This post contains spoilers for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. If you haven’t seen it yet, quit reading this post and head to the nearest movie theater. Otherwise, proceed at your own risk. Since one of my current WIPs has a rather hefty redemption arc, I’ve been doing a bit of reading … Continue reading Writing the Redemption Arc: A Case Study
Writing Updates Plus Giveaways
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
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
