Recently, a writer friend asked me how I combat writer’s block. Before I share what I told her, let me just tell you that writer’s block doesn’t discriminate. I don’t care if you’re JK frickin Rowling, every author is afflicted with this curse. Case in point, I gave this friend my answer for battling writer’s … Continue reading 3 ways to combat writer’s block
A friend of mine was telling me about a young writer she knows who was having some serious doubts about her writing. Man, do I know how that feels! I think any of us who have discovered the joy of writing have also discovered the weight of it, too. A few years back I wrote … Continue reading How to silence your inner writing critic
I'm reading "Make Your Words Work," by Gary Provost, an essential book for every writer. This is a book I wish I'd read before ever attempting to write a novel. I've barely scratched the surface, and already I've learned so much. One of the exercises in the book was to write a paragraph using all … Continue reading Writing exercise: Using all 5 senses
Every November, hundreds of thousands of writers commit to a month of solitude for a national (even worldwide) phenomenon known as National Novel Writing Month, aka NaNoWriMo. The goal is to have a 50,000-word story at the end of 30 days. I have taken part in NaNoWriMo since 2010, and it’s a big reason why … Continue reading Prepping for NaNoWriMo
This week I was a guest on Culture Dept., a podcast that, in their words, "features interviews with artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights on building a sustainable, contemporary creative life." Host Daedalus Howell and I discussed how to make creativity a huge part of one’s life, accomplishing creative goals even with a busy schedule … Continue reading Culture Dept. podcast: Reclaim Your Creative Soul
I remember when I first started publishing my books, my marketing focus was on the whole wide world. With the internet at my disposal, it made sense to me. I could reach anyone, anywhere, and sell to hundreds of thousands of people without ever having to leave the comfort of my own home. My first … Continue reading Getting personal with book selling
Hey everyone! I wanted to give you all a quick update on new places you can get my books. First and foremost, the publication date for Loving the Wind: The story of Tiger Lily & Peter Pan, has been updated to August! To be notified of its release, be sure to sign up for my … Continue reading Updates: Free book, release news and more
As long as I've been able to write, I've known I wanted to be a writer. But as we all know, the desire to be a writer doesn't create books alone. I've started writing novels, only to give up three chapters in. I've hidden my writing so that the world would never see my scribbles. … Continue reading 8 things I wish I’d known as a newbie writer
NaNoWriMo is coming up! All right, it's technically coming up in November. However, it's never too early to start thinking about NaNoWriMo, it's only too early to start writing for NaNoWriMo. What is NaNoWriMo? From the website: National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to creative writing. On November 1, participants begin … Continue reading 11 tips to “winning” NaNoWriMo
Are you doing NaNoWriMo this year? Want to "win"? Here are 10 tips to consider: 1. Create a story plan before November 1. Whether it's just a paragraph, or a detailed outline, it helps to know what you'll be writing about instead of wasting time staring at a blank page. 2. Set a daily writing … Continue reading 10 tips towards winning NaNoWriMo
