Writing for YA
When Writing Goals and Reality Collide
Beginning a new year tends to motivate people to get organized, start new projects, or finish ones they’ve ignored…
January 27, 2023-
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Writing MentorsAn Interview with Writing Mentor Pat Butler
Why do you write? Do you have a theme, message, or goal for your books? I feel called, compelled,…
January 19, 2023 -
Guest PostsWatch Your Step
Hiking can quickly change from breathtaking scenery to a breathtaking fall. We have to watch our steps in order…
November 27, 2018 -
Grammar and GraceEmpathy versus Sympathy
The words empathy and sympathy often cause confusion. I know first hand. I used empathy in another blog post…
July 18, 2018 -
Talking CharacterFive Questions for Portraying Anger
Anger comes in many shades, from miffed to murderous. Each shade looks and feels different. When a person is…
November 20, 2017 -
Dear Young ScribesBalancing the Elements of Fiction – Part 1
Have you ever noticed how some authors tend to focus too much on writing certain fiction elements, yet ignore…
October 9, 2017 -
5 For WritingMy 5 Rules for Writing
My favorite canine writer, Snoopy of Peanuts fame, received a boatload of rejection slips in his pursuit of a…
July 26, 2017 -
Specs: Speculative FictionCommitted Writer or Dabbler?
Hey guys, I wanted to kick this whole thing off by welcoming you to the ranks. (Though I’m sure…
July 23, 2017 -
Grammar and GraceAdjectives are Cool!
This month at Grammar and Grace we’re studying adjectives. Adjectives are words that tell something about a noun or…
July 18, 2017 -
The Binge WriterAre you a Binge Writer?
I am a binge writer. I always have been, and I probably always will be. What is a binge writer you…
July 3, 2017 -
Write JustifiedThe Times They Are A-Changin’
As languages go, English is fairly young. It’s been about 1400 years since the Anglo-Saxons imported English into Great…
June 27, 2017 -
Grammar and Grace
What are Pronouns?
A pronoun is a word that can take the place of a noun in a sentence which means…
June 17, 2017 -
Write JustifiedCan You Hear It Now?
A number of grammatical faux pas can be attributed to faulty hearing. I’m not implying that any of you…
May 27, 2017 -
Grammar and Grace
What are Nouns?
This time we’ll discuss nouns. Nouns can be common or proper. A common noun is a person, place, or…
May 18, 2017 -
Write Justified
Is that a Question? Or Not?
This may seem hard to believe, but[bctt tweet=” … not every question requires a question mark” username=””.] How…
April 27, 2017 -
Write Justified
Beware These Confusables
Because spellcheck, wonderful as it may be, doesn’t catch words used improperly … And because the English language…
March 27, 2017 -
Grammar and Grace
Let’s Talk About Verbs
Last time, I introduced the eight parts of speech. This time, we’ll focus on verbs. I’m beginning with the…
March 17, 2017 -
Dear Young ScribesTips for Surviving the 6 Seasons of a Writer’s Life
If you’ve been in the industry long enough then you probably know by now that the writer’s life is…
March 8, 2017 -
Writing with HumorThe Difference Between Comedy and Humor
I read a statement once that stuck with me: All comedy has humor, but not all humor is comedy.…
February 26, 2017 -
The Writer's PenCase, UncategorizedSeamless Self–Editing––Part VIII
As this series draws to a close, here are a couple practical exercises you can do at home to…
February 21, 2017 -
StoryworldAnatomy of Grays: Sex
Jim held a gray spheroid up to the light. “So Doc, you’re saying the sex of this alien was…
February 13, 2017 -
Dear Young ScribesThe Writer’s Palette: How to Write Concise Description to Liven Your Scenes
As writers, we have the power to tear down the boundaries of paper and ink when we craft a…
February 8, 2017 -
StoryworldAnatomy of Grays: Alien Digest
The autopsy window allowed Jim a clear view of the good doctor’s grim work. The gray-skinned corpse had been…
January 16, 2017 -
The Ministry of WritingKnow Your Manual — Seminary in 5: Old Testament Survey
Save money. Learn theology. Become a better writer. Minister more effective. That’s my hope for you. In this second…
January 10, 2017 -
Write Justified
The Common Comma
Plenty of ink has been spilled and battles fought over the necessity and superiority of the Oxford or serial…
December 26, 2016
