I’m sure you’ve heard it a fair number of times, “I write this genre/time because there are no smart phones to deal with.” It’s a tough fact, smart phones can kill your plot with a phone call or quick Google search. Here are a few examples. What’s a writer to do? You either fall into oneContinueContinue reading “Plotting with Cell Phones: A Writer’s Guide”
Author Archives: Hannah Deurloo
Pimp My Playset: The Plans
My hubby picked up a used playset for our toddler a few months ago and she loves it. However, the playset itself is in need of some TLC. This post is all about the plans for the playset. Whether is happens the way it’s planned will remain to be seen. For now these are theContinueContinue reading “Pimp My Playset: The Plans”
Example of Editor Awsomeness
If you haven’t taken advantage of a professional editor, it’s amazing what you can learn especially if you are trying to break in. I’d like to share an excerpt from my first chapter and I will cringe every time this post gets a view, so embarrassing. Here is my pre-edit from page one and I feltContinueContinue reading “Example of Editor Awsomeness”
Ancient Faces: A Photo Collection
Scrolling through photos from Rome, it became clear I’d seen a lot of old faces. Faces that had seen far more than myself. If only they could talk. What would they say to us? Here they are, I’ll let you decide what words they have to say. And with the morn those angel faces smileContinueContinue reading “Ancient Faces: A Photo Collection”
Hype, Engagement, and Twitter
Yes, I know any hype you can get for your book is better than no hype at all. But lets be real, not all hype is created equal. I’ve seen this (de-identified) Tweet many times for books, “Amazing Book (link) @soandso.” How nice of @soandso to say that about your book. You see these blurbs all theContinueContinue reading “Hype, Engagement, and Twitter”
Times OLD Roman
Ancient script brings a whole new level to the term hand lettering. These letters are literally chiseled out of marble and still around today. Talk about longevity of work. Traveling around Rome I took pictures of as many samples of ancient text I could find. Here are a few from the coliseum, forum, museums, andContinueContinue reading “Times OLD Roman”
Granny’s Garden: Extra Cash & Passion Collide
When you’ve spent your life growing and living off the land there is no turning back. Even when the fields are rented out to someone with more energy you still want to grow things. You grow what you want to eat, sell the excess, and use the extra cash to buy another type of Iris. AtContinueContinue reading “Granny’s Garden: Extra Cash & Passion Collide”
A Week in Rome
We arrived in Rome early afternoon, dropped our bags off, and shuttled into the city center with excitement weaving through our veins like the Vespa’s through traffic. Lost within steps and oddly unconcerned about it, as every twist revealed new wonders. Our drop off point was next to the river Themes and little did weContinueContinue reading “A Week in Rome”
Creating Cute, Clever, and Killer Blog Titles
A quick internet search will tell you all the “best” ways to name a blog post. But who is right? I’d venture to say, “It depends on the post.” For instance I could’ve named this post many different things lets dig a little deeper into all the methods for catching reader’s eyes in this fastContinueContinue reading “Creating Cute, Clever, and Killer Blog Titles”
Audience not Censorship: A Mini Rant
Let me be very clear, when we use age as a way to categorize books we are talking exclusively about the audience. THAT IS ALL. The age of your audiences has nothing to do with censorship or content. This whole idea has been floating around on Twitter and it’s beyond frustrating. No where are thereContinueContinue reading “Audience not Censorship: A Mini Rant”
DIY: No Sew Corset
I first saw this dress when I was a child at a yard sale and had to have it. It didn’t fit me but I didn’t care as I added it to my dress-up stash. It worked perfect with a fake string of pearls and I was in love and so was my imaginary Prince.ContinueContinue reading “DIY: No Sew Corset”
How to Mix and Match Outfits- Travel in Style
I’m so excited for vacation (more photos to come). I’m not excited about the baggage fees most airlines charge. It’s insane! I’m taking the time to pack things that I need, nothing else. I need room to bring back suviners. We’ve all seen the ‘travel’ sets of clothing on Pinterest that you can make a month of outfitsContinueContinue reading “How to Mix and Match Outfits- Travel in Style”
Finding Voice
First find the tiny seed of a four leaf clover. Since you can’t tell the difference between three and four leaf clover seeds plant them all and wait. As they grow and display leaves count them. If you didn’t get a rare four leaf in this batch start over. At least that’s what it feels likeContinueContinue reading “Finding Voice”
DIY Butcher Block Countertop
Doing a kitchen remodel is no easy task. Check out Mar’s before and after to see what I mean. If you’ve been considering re-doing anything in your kitchen a great place to start is the counters. While Mars opted for granite (which looks amazing) we have chosen to go with butcher block. It’s very affordableContinueContinue reading “DIY Butcher Block Countertop”
Writer Resources- My Go To List
We all have places online we have stumbled upon and cling to on a daily or weekly basis. These are people we look up to and are eager to learn from. My list represents industry professionals that drop gems of information every week. All you have to do it come pick them up. Not 100% of everything isContinueContinue reading “Writer Resources- My Go To List”
No Time like Query Time
So I’m midstream in waiting to hear back from two dozen queries. What’s a girl to do? Here are some thoughts on moving forward while you wait. Don’t lose your writing habits. Many of us sit at our computers hitting refresh on our inbox every 30 seconds. Don’t let your writing time and habits fallContinueContinue reading “No Time like Query Time”
Problem: The Slow Start
While starting off slow and easy is generally preferred with most things in life, it is the opposite when it comes to a good book. Readers want complete and total immersion from page one! It’s a tall order. I admit my book starts off slow. I wanted to build tension and let the reader experience whatContinueContinue reading “Problem: The Slow Start”
Winters Final Breath
It’s hard to describe what the forest sounds like when it’s encased in ice and a slow rain is falling. The ground crunches, the branches snap, and the water trickles through the ice covered canopy. What was a path through the woods is now impassable with the trees bowed low across the way. My daughterContinueContinue reading “Winters Final Breath”
DIY Cat Toy
I have a cat of unbelievable fluffiness. A happy problem really. To keep her royal fluffiness content she must have a few toys. Alas, the plastic ones from the store quickly break from overuse and general excitement. The feathers get ripped out the plastic handles get stepped on and snap. What’s a cat owner toContinueContinue reading “DIY Cat Toy”
Geocaching Fun
While I do love a good spring time walk, it can get a bit drab this time of year. In Michigan, the trees are starting to bud and the mud is inescapable as the snow melts. To spice up your walk, especially with kids, you can do a bit of geocaching along your route. Here’sContinueContinue reading “Geocaching Fun”
Holy Homesteading 