Holy Homesteading

Beta Reader Breakdown Part 2, Equip your team

Find Part 1 of Beta Reader Breakdown, Pick Your Team Here Now onto the tough part. What do you ask the beta readers to do? Or do you say nothing? I think some rough framework is needed so I am creating a packet I will print off for each reader, it includes: A complete printContinue reading "Beta Reader Breakdown Part 2, Equip your team"

NaNoWriMo: A Postscript (Or Reflections on a Month of Creative Abandon)

Guest Post by Andrew Newton, Find his blog at newtonandnewtoninc.wordpress.com This past November, I embarked for the fourth time on a literary adventure of grand proportions. National Novel Writing Month (aka. NaNoWriMo, or just NaNo) is an annual challenge for writers of all ages to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. Each timeContinue reading "NaNoWriMo: A Postscript (Or Reflections on a Month of Creative Abandon)"

On assignment in Costa Rica

Guest Photo Post from Sherry Rought: San Jose, Costa Rica After being caged up in a compound in an inner city of Costa Rica for weeks, I ventured out. Out of the razor wired, smothered area that I call home. To be set free by my own doing, was a reward in itself. IContinue reading "On assignment in Costa Rica"

Mars: 12:00 am

Pick Your Team, Beta Reader Breakdown

As I enter my final stages of revision for my YA novel my heart is fluttering with excitement and dread. It’s coming to the point where someone else will be reading my words… characters as close as family will be critiqued. Secretly, I think it's flawless. Reality hits cold. What do I do? How doContinue reading "Pick Your Team, Beta Reader Breakdown"

Building a Frame, not a Cage

We are divided into one category of writers or the other; we are either pantsters or plotters. While I do not know for sure who coined these terms, the pantster writes by the seat of their pants while the plotter writes from an established plan. Etymology aside, I am a plotter and my plan usually takes the form of anContinue reading "Building a Frame, not a Cage"

Holiday Pinecones

The trick to painting the tips of pinecones is not meticulous work and endless time. It’s as simple as a letting nature do the work for us! Here is how I make perfectly frosted pinecones for the holidays! I live in Michigan so, if I want to get pinecones from under my pine trees, nowContinue reading "Holiday Pinecones"

Gift Guide: The Artist

Are you looking for a gift for the artistic/creative person in your life? Here is a list that I came up with of some amazing gifts that they would love to get! Coloring Book! of course Artist love coloring! Sometimes we need to do something creative that is more laid back and doesn't require soContinue reading "Gift Guide: The Artist"

5 Baking Tips

I’m just going to say it, I love to bake. So I regularly tune into some of the old school chefs, Jacques Pepin, Julia Childs, Martha Stewart, all courtesy of my local PBS Station. Throughout the years I’ve picked up some handy tips and tricks that I use regularly. I’d like to share a fewContinue reading "5 Baking Tips"

My First Web Comic!

I was practicing Calligraphy this week and it inspired me to make my first web comic, Enjoy!

Cinnamon Vanilla Sugar Recipe

Do you love lattes? Does your wallet scream every time you go into a coffee house? You know Starbucks has the word ‘bucks’ in it for a reason. Here is a sweet solution I have concocted and cannot get enough of. I must have my morning coffee, with cream and sugar. But not just any sugar.Continue reading "Cinnamon Vanilla Sugar Recipe"

Two Day Curls!

My hair is naturally straight but some days I just have to have bouncy curls! Problem, I don’t own a curling iron for many reasons, top of the list being my hair is just too long and thick to effectively curl in a decent amount of time. My solution goes back to the days ofContinue reading "Two Day Curls!"

Vegan for a Day

To stay healthy I like to have vegan or vegetarian days or meals. In America most people have meat or an animal product in every meal. I wanted to share with you what I made yesterday that I thought was really tasty! I love eating vegan or vegetarian throughout the week because it helps cut myContinue reading "Vegan for a Day"

Lost for Words: Five ways to Generate Story Ideas

I was recently asked how I come up with new ideas to write about so regularly. I liken it to an athlete doing conditioning. To condition you practice, you stretch, and you eat right. Writing is no different. You practice your writing each day or at least as often as you possibly can. You stretchContinue reading "Lost for Words: Five ways to Generate Story Ideas"

Terrarium How To

We have all seen the gorgeous terrarium plantings sprinkled all over Pinterest but have you actually tried to make your own? They are surprisingly easy and wonderfully forgiving for those of us with less than a green thumb. Recently I snagged a great deal on a large glass globe at a thrift store. You canContinue reading "Terrarium How To"

Gift Kits for Gardeners

Do you have that one person that is so hard to shop for? I know I do. You know they are crazy about gardening but clueless where to even start looking? Here are some clever garden ideas to get you started this holiday season. If you are lucky you may even snag some of theseContinue reading "Gift Kits for Gardeners"

Understanding Your Home Style

Pull up your Pinterest account. Do you have a house board? Maybe you’ve split it into bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens. You have no idea why but those pictures spoke to you. But when you go to the hardware store and go down the isles you have no idea what to pick let alone how thingsContinue reading "Understanding Your Home Style"

Edit vs. Revise

How many times have you heard this: “I’ve finished my book! Now I just need an editor!” But is it really done? Have they done revisions? Or when you offer to take the first ten pages do you find so many errors you can’t keep track of the story? We have all been there-- onContinue reading "Edit vs. Revise"

Writing Revisions

I’m currently revising my book, it’s a daunting task. I’ve read lots of posts and articles on the ‘best’ way to revise. Then all the articles talking about when you are actually ‘done’ revising. What I’ve realized is that everyone’s process is different just like every book is. I’d like to share the process I’mContinue reading "Writing Revisions"

How to optimize your website for Pinterest

We all have seen viral photos, hello grumpy kitty. Can you imagine the site traffic boost if just one of your photos goes viral? Oh the joy! Not only is your photo out there but so is your website! Right? Odds are no. As a blogger, I have taken the time to set up eachContinue reading "How to optimize your website for Pinterest"