Writing Space Inspiration

I'm blessed enough to actually have a desk to do my writing at. I've got an eclectic collection of items chilling out around the space. I don't think there is a right or wrong way to spruce up a space but here is my general checklist: Something Alive- Besides myself I have a succulent treeContinue reading "Writing Space Inspiration"

Research Tricks & Tips You Can’t Live Without

I've been digging deep these past few weeks working through a historical fiction picture book series (I'm so stinking excited about it). On that note I've gotten fairly good at finding information and I want to share some of my best tricks and tips. Unpopular opinion #1: Wikipedia is NOT a safe research source. WhileContinue reading "Research Tricks & Tips You Can’t Live Without"

Historical Fiction for Kids in 9 Steps

Let's be clear writing is extremely difficult. Historical fiction has a special degree of difficulty. So these steps are IN ADDITION to all the other normal awesome writing and editing you do. These are the extra things. You also need to know that this post is here because I'm writing my first historical fiction andContinue reading "Historical Fiction for Kids in 9 Steps"

2020 Writing Challenge

I'm so blessed to have a few local writing friends. They keep me honest when it comes to the amount of work I'm actually getting done, ahm, or not getting done. One of them called me out. "You're not writing enough."                             Continue reading "2020 Writing Challenge"

How to Pick A Point of View

I've been wrestling with a new picture book story that I want to write. I've got nothing on paper, yet. It's just bubbling in the back of my mind. The story elements are all there, plot, structure, information, character options. What I can't wrap my mind around is the point of view. WHO is goingContinue reading "How to Pick A Point of View"

10 Reading Quotes to Fall In Love With

Oftentimes someone has said what I wish to say far more eloquently than I ever could. So today I'm going to let others way in on reading. I hope you enjoy these quotes as much as I do. I'm also going to take Bill's advice as the weather is dreary to a fault. So cheersContinue reading "10 Reading Quotes to Fall In Love With"

Making A Holiday Journal

In one of my Christmas boxes I have a small, unassuming notebook. It lives there with all the decor for most the year. But when we pull out the holiday boxes I also pull out this notebook. It's become incredibly special. It's my family holiday journal. I've been adding to it each year for fiveContinue reading "Making A Holiday Journal"

A Nontraditional Tradition

So my family discovered escape rooms a few years ago and let's just say we are a bit addicted. When we take a vacation we check if there are escape rooms in the area before we go. It's become a thing. Last Christmas I was thrown the challenge of, "Hey, you're good at puzzles andContinue reading "A Nontraditional Tradition"

How to Write During the Holidays

I've come to realize the days between Thanksgiving and Christmas are somewhat of a twilight zone for writing. It seems like either it all gets written or none of it does. So how do you fit in a routine when life's routine is out the window? The short answer is, I don't know. The longContinue reading "How to Write During the Holidays"

“You charge for so few words!?”

"You charge for so few words!?" Says so many folks who are looking for copy writing services. While I love the agency I work through for copy writing (and they would never make a statement like this) I've heard this line so often from those outside the writing business. Let's be really clear. Writing short,Continue reading "“You charge for so few words!?”"

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.  -Melody Beattie

A New Kind of DIY Wreath

I've used grapevines to make plenty of wreaths before. I've even made them into festive trees. But now I've found a new medium to make a wreath. Roots. On a recent beach walk I came across a pile of washed up tree roots. They were smooth, clean, and stripped of bark from the waves. TheyContinue reading "A New Kind of DIY Wreath"

You Should Talk to an Agent Today, Seriously.

So I've been steadily working through my stories as they come to me. I've talked before about choosing a story to write that really gets you excited. I still stand by all of that. However, there comes a moment when a choice must be made and that choice has consequences. I'm there. I've got fiveContinue reading "You Should Talk to an Agent Today, Seriously."

I’m Failing NaNoWriMo & Happy- You Should be too.

It's Day 11 of National Novel Writing Month. If you're like me you are slowly watching the gap between the words written and words that should be written graph on your NaNoWriMo home page grow. It's not that I'm not writing. It's that I'm not getting as many words as I need. I'm still happyContinue reading "I’m Failing NaNoWriMo & Happy- You Should be too."

5 Tricks to Fast Drafting

It's National Novel Writing Month and word counts reign supreme in the writing world right now. The thing is we are all so short on time. When I sit down to write it needs to happen now. There's no luxury of sitting and staring at the screen for hours. Kids, chores, other work, and theContinue reading "5 Tricks to Fast Drafting"

Don’t Say It That Way!

I really enjoy coming up with witty titles for my blog posts. It's fun. Part of me (the stubborn part) doesn't want to change. But one of my good writing pals pointed out the wisdom of key words the other day. She even backed it up with this fascinating and fear producing article. Have IContinue reading "Don’t Say It That Way!"

Public Speaking: Conference Edition

On Saturday, I had the privilege to speak at a local writers conference hosted through the Kent District Library. I was one of four speakers and we were all focused on the craft of writing. While I know many writers cringe at the idea of public speaking don't be too intimidated. It's a room fullContinue reading "Public Speaking: Conference Edition"

Show Don’t Tell: Passive Verbs

I've been writing for some time now and some of the advice that gets pushed around is "show don't tell." Which is fine advice but no one ever gives a practical way to accomplish this. So here it is. A way to move your sentences from passive into active and therefore show instead of tell.Continue reading "Show Don’t Tell: Passive Verbs"

I’m Not an Island

I'm a fairly prolific writer. I get ideas fast and can follow through quickly. That's my normal. To my peers it looks effortless, like I'm a creative island unto myself. I assure you it's not easy nor as secluded as it seems. It's a carefully tuned balance in a multifaceted creative life. Currently, I'm notContinue reading "I’m Not an Island"

The Case for Story Dummies

Listening to the Literaticast Podcast (#34) I finally have been able to get a better handle on the term board book. If you aren't listening to the podcast I highly recommend it for great industry thoughts and information all around children's books. So board books are for the youngest readers, ages 0-5. They are usually madeContinue reading "The Case for Story Dummies"

Holy Homesteading

Living a Creative Life with Hannah Deurloo, Author

Skip to content ↓