So you want to be an author? Writing is in your blood, you say? You’d write even if hell froze over. And though you might not say it out loud, you want your writing published for all the world (or at least a bunch of readers) to see. How do you get there? Writing Tip […]
Should Fiction Writers Educate?
The past week in America has been eye-opening, if nothing else. The reactions of some made me think of writers I’ve worked with who are intent on educating their readers. Writing Tip for Today: Fiction can be a powerful tool—but is educating readers or changing their minds by twisting arms the best path? When Education […]
Character Goals and Stakes
For the past few weeks I’ve been setting new goals and dealing with high stakes. Thanks to all of you who have been understanding and patient with me as I’ve taken a few weeks’ off to deal with my husband’s recent stroke. I’ve learned all sorts of interesting stuff about how strokes impact people and […]
Here Come Da Judges
I stood at the book signing event, discussing with a reader my first published book called Lost Boys and the Moms who Love Them. Two of my three sons were abusing substances. A couple of friends had sons who also struggled, so we collaborated. My feet ached as I explained how the three of us […]
Writing When Life Interrupts
Every writer knows that when life intervenes, writing usually takes a hit. That’s what happened to me this week. My dearly beloved ex-Marine husband suffered a stroke on Sunday. He’s extremely lucky in that we were able to get help fast and the hospital used the clot-buster drugs to dissolve a life-threatening clot in his […]
Love/Hate and the Writing Process
Some write; others wish only to have written. So many of us will say we have wanted to write since childhood. I too scribbled stories and plays and poems as a kid. Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate the love/hate of the writing process. Writing Tip for Today: What are some ways to make […]
Next Steps for NaNoWriMo
Writing a novel in thirty days is quite an accomplishment. If you’re racing toward the 50,000-word count or have sat back with a “Whew! I did it!” you might be wondering where your draft should go from here. Writing Tip for Today: When you finish your NaNoWriMo draft, what are some next steps? Let It […]
Blind Trust
A few days before Thanksgiving, it was already dark at four-thirty—the time of year when I jump into jammies early and pray again for my son’s miracle: Let him find recovery. Then the text came: Can I get a ride home before you go to bed? I heaved a sigh but pulled on my boots […]
Writing Unforgettable Dialogue
Writing unforgettable dialogue should be on every writer’s bucket list. Iconic passages such as, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, from Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities come to mind. Do you wish you could write […]
Writing More Effective Dialogue
Any writer who watches movies understands how important dialogue is to the story. Yet in too many instances, we’re writing dialogue that could use a tune up. Instead of asking what the character might say, a better question might be to ask what a character must say. Writing Tip for Today: How can we write […]
