Guest Post by Lori M. Myers “I just want to thank…” No, this isn’t an Oscar speech. It’s a shout out to my writing groups on my book’s dedication page. My success and persistence as a writer wouldn’t be possible without them. So let me ask you this: Are you shy about sharing your workContinueContinue reading “How Writing Groups Can Help You”
Author Archives: Hannah Deurloo
Homemade Lands DIY 2.0
If you’ve gotten good at thinking of cleaver craft/toy combos like I have over the winter you’ll understand why I bought an old box of old plastic flowers from a thrift store this weekend. First it was only $3 bucks and second my kid is going to flip out when this comes together (I hope).ContinueContinue reading “Homemade Lands DIY 2.0”
DIY Birdhouse for Free
Taking a walk through our local park my toddler found several types of pinecones and soon my coat pockets were brimming with them. Like special rocks you can’t toss a good pinecone. To pacify my toddler we took her found treasure and a couple other items and made an adorable bird house with viewing window toContinueContinue reading “DIY Birdhouse for Free”
Tassel Sun Hat DIY
I love sun hats for gardening, the beach, even driving. The problem is the cute ones are so expensive and don’t always match what I already own. So here’s a fun DIY to customize your own sun hat from the dollar store, enjoy! Supplies: Scissors- already owned Sun hat- Dollar Tree $1 Favorite color ofContinueContinue reading “Tassel Sun Hat DIY”
Homemade Play Lands: Your DIY idea source
As most parents know, kids toys, especially ‘sets’ of things, can get out of hand in quantity and cost quickly. If you’ve got hot-wheels then you need the mat, the garage, the towers, the race track. If you have Barbie you need the cloths, the house and the convertible. Do I need to continue? MyContinueContinue reading “Homemade Play Lands: Your DIY idea source”
Lend Me Your Ear: Podcasts for Writers
Having a toddler I’ve found my time to actually read has dwindled to nothing and it’s so frustrating. What I have found time for however is audio, while writing, while cooking, and any other feasible time I can squeak in 30-ish minutes. Not only have I found podcasts that offer helpful advise but also toContinueContinue reading “Lend Me Your Ear: Podcasts for Writers”
3D Embroidery DIY: Wall Flower
I have a book on Needlecraft from 1959 and flipping through it’s pages this winter I was reminded how little Americans sew now-a-days. It used to be clothing was made at home, toys were created from little more than trash, and décor like curtains and rugs created from scratch. Believe me, I’m not complaining. IContinueContinue reading “3D Embroidery DIY: Wall Flower”
Short Story Backtrack
I’m totally 100% dedicated to my new book. But then I found this anthology I want to submit to. So now what to do? Do I pause my new fantasy to go down a rabbit hole into speculative historical or do I continue on and ignore the muse in the corner yelling at me? That’sContinueContinue reading “Short Story Backtrack”
A Rocky Beach In Winter
One of my favorite places to visit as a child, a beach full of the prettiest rocks any kid could dream of. With a steep sand hill plunging 100 feet down to the water’s edge this small section juts out into Lake Michigan causing rocks to wash up from the fathoms below. Just three feetContinueContinue reading “A Rocky Beach In Winter”
Twitter for Writers: Breaking In
If you’ve been on the fence about joining Twitter specifically for writing let me give you all the reason’s to do so. The Children’s Writers & Illustrator’s Market 2017 dedicates a full article to the topic quoting several top notch agents in the process here is an excerpt: Agent Thao Le of Sandra Dijkstra LieraryContinueContinue reading “Twitter for Writers: Breaking In”
Windowsill Lettuce
In mid Michigan the winter can get long, really long, to the point where I want to buy potted plants to smell dirt and see the color green again. I’m also horrible about eating lettuce before it spoils in my fridge. Solution: pick when you need it lettuce. About two weeks before Christmas I pulledContinueContinue reading “Windowsill Lettuce”
7 Ways to Find Inspiration
A Guest Post by Theresa Braun I started wondering where it was that I get my inspiration when I write. Here, I’ve come up with a list of things that have triggered my creativity. My hope is that you might find some additional ways to spark your own. Travel: Going to new places in oneContinueContinue reading “7 Ways to Find Inspiration”
Setting Up Setting
This is how the conversation in my head went as I sat reading Setting by Bickham over my holiday break: Chapter 1- Story setting is important. Chapter 5- Super-duper important. End of Book- Crap, I’ve got to re-examine everything… Setting: the surroundings or environment of anything. For a book this can be anything from aContinueContinue reading “Setting Up Setting”
Book Looks: Why Character Looks Matter
I recently read a Twitter post stating they were changing there main character’s appearance to “average” to make her more “relatable” for female readers. This is the moment I wish for an unlike button. It’s not that book characters shouldn’t be average looking, by all means I’d appreciate it if more books were realistic. However,ContinueContinue reading “Book Looks: Why Character Looks Matter”
Starting Fresh- A new book journey
After getting my first fully edited book done and out there I’ve started working on something new. I will not be writing the same way this time. This time I will be intentional about all of it. This time I started with a question, something I needed to create an answer to in the formContinueContinue reading “Starting Fresh- A new book journey”
DIY- Felt Christmas Tree for Toddler
If you’re like my family you have more heirloom ornaments than normal ones on your tree. They are special and mean something even if it makes the tree look cheesy. So how do you have a family tree when you really don’t want anyone in the family to touch it? Especially that glass one from greatContinueContinue reading “DIY- Felt Christmas Tree for Toddler”
Goal Setting
We are slowly approaching the end of the year, it’s been a doozy. What will you be doing next year? I’m not necessarily talking about loosing that holiday weight, I mean for your life. How are you going to level up you? One way is to set a goal. We all have dreams. It’s time to makeContinueContinue reading “Goal Setting”
Vintage Gifts for the Holiday
For Christmas we always play “the game.” You know the one where you get a number, pass the gifts, and steal them from each other (or any variation thereof). Our newest twist to this game is buying our gifts second hand, either from a yard sale or from a thrift shop. Not only is the challenge to findContinueContinue reading “Vintage Gifts for the Holiday”
Competition versus Contest
Have you ever felt no matter how hard you work at it your writing it never seems to come out on top? Agents reject your prose, your Twitter pitches stagnate unheard, and editors point out a lack of sparkle. Take heart, writing is a contest not a competition. According to Dictionary.com here is the definitionContinueContinue reading “Competition versus Contest”
DIY Chair Makeover
Snagging items for cheep is one thing. Incorporating them into your home design is entirely different. Lets give it a shot with this wooden high chair. Items & Cost Breakdown: Chair- found at Goodwill $8 Wood Glue- already owned Hammer- already owned Pliers- already owned Goo Off- bought bottle for $6 Sandpaper- bought assorted pack forContinueContinue reading “DIY Chair Makeover”
Holy Homesteading 