Holy Homesteading

3 must-haves for personalizing your home office

Warning: This is not a Pinterest-worthy post. But it is real. When I set out to personalize my home office, I wanted it to be beautiful, functional, and inspiring. What mighty desires for a room! I spent months not doing anything to my office because I had such high hopes for it and was intimidatedContinue reading "3 must-haves for personalizing your home office"

Bullies vs. Cheerleaders

I've been blessed to join a new critique group of amazing ladies. If you are in a critique group you know it can be invaluable in so many ways. I try to have a writing group for each age category I write in if possible. This means I have my picture book pals, my middleContinue reading "Bullies vs. Cheerleaders"

3 books every writer needs

There are many reading lists out there for writers of all genres, shapes, and sizes. But I'm not here to reinvent the wheel. I'm here to simplify. Instead of giving you a long list of must-reads that will be overwhelmingly long on top of your already long to-read pile, let's focus on just three books.Continue reading "3 books every writer needs"

Bravery is Not a Feeling

Bravery is an action. You heard me. It's what you do that gets you labeled brave. Your feelings are secret and no one knows you are quaking inside. To the world, you are doing something incredible. Be brave. Take risks. Nothing can substitute experience. -Paulo Coelho Every time you write your story, yourContinue reading "Bravery is Not a Feeling"

How to start defeating chronic lateness and procrastination

I am chronically late. It's an illness, really. Heck, I'm publishing this blog post late. Growing up, my Dad would threaten to go places without me. Now, my husband threatens the same thing. Are they mean? Absolutely not! It's my boundary issue. My husband and I have been reading Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to SayContinue reading "How to start defeating chronic lateness and procrastination"

The Art of the [Art Note: …]

I'm a fairly traditional writer. So making the transition into picture books has been difficult. Not because my writing is bad but because picture books are more than just the words. In picture books I have to leave room for art. You can check out another post on book structure HERE. When I say I'm leavingContinue reading "The Art of the [Art Note: …]"

Where is home for your characters?

Do you ever just want to go home? Maybe you've had a long day at work or are stuck in traffic. Whatever happened or is bustling around you, you're just ready to be home. You're ready to be in your comfort zone with the people and pets you love the most. Do your characters wantContinue reading "Where is home for your characters?"

A New Editing Resource

For those of us that write kid lit, especially at the chapter level and below, it's essential to understand reading levels. Unfortunately, there are nearly a dozen different scales you can use to "grade" your story. Additionally, how do you know what makes a story a higher or lower level, are your edits even working?Continue reading "A New Editing Resource"

How quotation marks and other punctuation marks meet

Do you consider yourself American or British? This isn't a trick question. I'm not trying to dig into your lineage. American English differs quite differently from British English in many ways. What’s the craic? AKA What's up? Waffle AKA ramble Pissed AKA drunk It's pissing down AKA It's raining In addition to many fun wordsContinue reading "How quotation marks and other punctuation marks meet"

Comparable Titles Are Like Buried Treasure

Finding a good comparable title is like following a map to buried treasure. Once you've got a good one you're golden but the journey can be grueling. Let's add some tools to your backpack on this excursion. Beware! None of these ideas will help you if you don't fully understand your own story first. YouContinue reading "Comparable Titles Are Like Buried Treasure"

Healthy chocolate-covered strawberry popcorn

Chocolate-covered strawberries + popcorn = best Valentine's Day ever!

11 Tips for Building a Writing Team

I talked last week about different types of critique. Check out that post HERE. This week I want to dig in about how to create and maintain a critique group. I saw an interview with a group of writers who've been critiquing for over 15 years and I took notes. These folks were making itContinue reading "11 Tips for Building a Writing Team"

How to direct your workweek with emotions and 4 questions

Emotions get a bad rap. Emotional women are hysterical. Emotional men are weak. Characters that withhold emotion are seen and written as strong. Did anyone else cringe while reading that? But it's true. That's how our society writes and often thinks about emotions. The funny thing is, we talk about the positive side of emotionsContinue reading "How to direct your workweek with emotions and 4 questions"

Different Types Of Critique

I've been taking a writing course for picture books and something has become abundantly clear, there are different types of critiques. Within a group of writers and authors I'm looking for specific feedback regarding plot, pacing, character, sentence structure etc. All the things that writers have learned to improve craft through the editing process. That'sContinue reading "Different Types Of Critique"

How to use small wins to feel like a winner

Don't give up on your big dreams because you feel defeated. Start by inspiring yourself with small wins. #ProgressPrinciple

Writing & Facebook: Caution is Key

I enjoy Facebook like most folks and use it regularly. However what I don't put on Facebook is my writing that I'm seeking publication for. I've been told my stance is extreme at times and I'd like to dive into the why behind my stance. This is an excerpt from the Facebook Legal Agreement thatContinue reading "Writing & Facebook: Caution is Key"

10 tips for starting the Curly Girl Method – part 2

Last week I shared my Curly Girl story and top 3 tips for starting the Curly Girl Method. This week, I sharing 7 more tips. #curlygirlmethod #hair

Writing & Parenting: A Juggling Act

I have two young kids, neither of them are in school yet, and let me say it's hard to find time for creative endeavors. By the end of the day I'm too tired to think. In the morning even the littlest peep will wake them early. What's a parent to do? All hail quiet time!Continue reading "Writing & Parenting: A Juggling Act"

10 tips for starting the Curly Girl Method – part 1

Do you have curly #hair? Then I have a treat for you. Today, I'm sharing my Curly Girl story and my top 3 tips for starting the Curly Girl Method. #curlygirlmethod

How to Utilize Book Structure

When you hear the words picture book, what comes to mind? A book with pictures? Me too. But picture books are so much more than the words and pictures, there is also the book itself. When you go to revise your story think about these different elements and see if any of them are aContinue reading "How to Utilize Book Structure"