Mastering Middle Grade
Ten Ways to Be a Great Critique Partner
It cannot be overstated: Critique groups are vital for writers. The critique group is to a writer what coaches…
October 16, 2020-
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Magazine and FreelanceThe Value of a “Write Away”
I have a good friend who often says, “I’m going to be gone this week to a “write away.”…
October 14, 2020 -
Fantasy-Sci-FiHow to Defeat the Dream-Stealers
I hadn’t been careful enough, and the creature had my scent. Fight or flight, but there’s nowhere to run.…
October 7, 2020 -
ScreenwritingNew Heights (The Climax)
At this point in 2020, we are over halfway through the year and it seems like a new setback…
October 4, 2020 -
Writing for YAWriters Gotta Read: Where to Find Book Recs and A Short List of Suggested Reading for YA Authors
I cannot remember the books I’ve read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have…
September 27, 2020 -
Romancing Your StoryShould Your Romance Contain a Trope?
In case you’re unfamiliar with the word trope, let’s define it. A trope is a character trait or plot…
September 23, 2020 -
History in the MakingReverential Capitalization, or God and Pronouns
An interesting thing happened to me on my way to being traditionally published. During my most recent edit, the…
September 20, 2020 -
Devotional/Christian Living
The Cold Call: How to Approach a Church or Women’s Group for Speaking Opportunities
Recently in a devotional/Christian living blogger Facebook group, a woman asked how she could find speaking engagements. She has…
September 19, 2020 -
Mystery/Thriller/SuspenseThe Power of Facial Expressions
Facial expressions speak louder than words, and yet, they don’t make a sound. In most cases, faces convey an…
September 17, 2020 -
Mastering Middle Grade
Middle Grade Goes Back to School
Ready or not, September means it is time for heading back to school. As an adult, the phrase “back…
September 16, 2020 -
Magazine and Freelance
A Writer’s Bio – The Most Valuable Piece of Real Estate on the Block
Many writers assume that the value of their article is the payment they receive for writing it. The opposite…
September 14, 2020 -
Fantasy-Sci-Fi
How Genre Impacts Your Character Development
Sometimes it’s easy to think character development looks similar across genres. And for the reader, it usually does. Even…
September 7, 2020 -
Screenwriting
On the Rise
Six months ago when the pandemic first came to America, scientists and medical professionals thought that once the temperatures…
September 4, 2020 -
Writing for YA
Building a Compelling Fantasy World: Q & A with YA Author Amy C. Blake
It’s not always easy creating a whole world from scratch. Amy C. Blake agreed to give a few words…
August 27, 2020 -
Romancing Your Story
Romantic Tension
In the romance genre, it’s a given that your hero and heroine will end up together for a happily…
August 23, 2020 -
History in the Making
Thinking Inside the Icebox
From the ingenuity of Thomas Moore, the icebox first appeared on the American scene in 1802. Like many new…
August 20, 2020 -
Devotional/Christian LivingSpreadsheets: Organizing Wisdom from Author Karen Whiting
I am one of those writers who sits among piles of stuff. That piece of information I need? I…
August 19, 2020 -
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Identity Crisis
Let’s talk villains. One of my favorite topics! The creeper. The serial killer. The diabolical mastermind. The psychotic killer.…
August 17, 2020 -
Mastering Middle Grade
Write Like a Kid
When your critique partners tell you (more than once) your middle grade fiction sounds too adult, how do you…
August 16, 2020 -
Magazine and Freelance
Get Started with Writing Articles
The first thing a beginning writers often hear is “write what you know.” Good advice! But once you have…
August 14, 2020 -
Fantasy-Sci-Fi
Your Protagonist: The Eyes to Your Story
Choosing a perspective character is one of the biggest choices when it comes to writing your novel. There are…
August 7, 2020 -
Screenwriting
Plot Twist?
Before I began writing my current W.I.P I knew exactly who my protagonist and antagonist were. I knew how…
August 4, 2020 -
Writing for YA
Feeling Blocked? Five Tips to Help
I’ve never liked the term writer’s block and prefer to call it writer’s exhaustion, but it means the same…
July 27, 2020 -
Romancing Your Story
The Romance Point of View
Point of view (POV) is essential in all forms of fiction to describe the action as the character experiences…
July 23, 2020 -
History in the Making
The History of Your Characters
When we think of “historical”, we think the story is set in a historical time period, and many of…
July 20, 2020
