When I first started my search for a remote job, it was out of desperation. I needed to find a new job (for reasons mentioned in this blog post). I applied to so many jobs. Full-time and part-time. In Michigan and outside of the state. I just wanted something. Anything. I had phone interviews galore,ContinueContinue reading “My journey to working remotely”
Category Archives: Writing
Villains, Antagonists, and Baddies
Writers tend to slack on writing good bad guys. We do pages and pages of backstory on our main characters but our villains are cookie cutter. That really ought to change. Let’s talk about the characters in a book that give the hero problems. Just like the hero there are also many types of villainsContinueContinue reading “Villains, Antagonists, and Baddies”
How to Research Agents
You’ve written your book, polished it, and gone through rounds of editing. It’s time to send your story out into the world to see if you can get an agent. But who do you send your story to? How do you choose? Carefully. I’ve talked before about what not to say to an agent. I’veContinueContinue reading “How to Research Agents”
The Humble Filing Cabinet
The papers around, across, and under my desk area have become like snowbanks in summer drifting into other areas of my home. I’m lost in my own space and it’s nearing the point of needing a snow shovel, in July. As I’ve gotten farther into my writing life I’ve realized my organization has not grownContinueContinue reading “The Humble Filing Cabinet”
A Bow to Editing Services
If you’ve been reading my posts for any length of time you’ll have noticed that grammar rules and spelling are not in something I hold in spades. In fact, I’m down right atrocious. I do try but grammar and spelling are a constant struggle for me. Which is why I’ve decided to take the nextContinueContinue reading “A Bow to Editing Services”
Building Your Bouquet of Stories
When I buy flower seeds I read the back of the package first. It tells me what kind of sunlight, soil, and climate this little seed needs to thrive. It also says how long it will take before I see any blooms, sometimes it takes months, a big investment. Like a flower, how do youContinueContinue reading “Building Your Bouquet of Stories”
Sweet Seven: A Picture Book Challenge
I’m fairly competitive and I also like teammates. So how’s about a friendly challenge? For those of us writing picture books we have ideas floating around to infinity is seems, see last weeks post for more on that. So it hit me to put my ideas into a challenge. There are many ways to formatContinueContinue reading “Sweet Seven: A Picture Book Challenge”
The 80/20 balance lie
If I workout 6 days a week, I’ll get stronger. If I work 5 days a week, I’ll be able to pay the bills and maybe even get a promotion. If I write 5 days a week, I deserve to rest over the weekend and still get my book ready for a publisher soon. IfContinueContinue reading “The 80/20 balance lie”
A Fish Full of Ideas
Many years ago I bought a metal fish used to hold papers, letters, whatever, at a yard sale. It was so handsome I couldn’t part with him move after move. I found him this week as I looked through boxes sorting trash from treasure. I’ve talked about ideas before and I often liken ideas toContinueContinue reading “A Fish Full of Ideas”
A random hello from the Reference Desk
Hello. How are you today? I like your hair. It looks extra nice today. Hey. Are you okay? Do you need a hug? A random hello. A compliment. A smile. Genuine questions and concerns. A moment is brief, but it can create a lasting impression. Working in a library, I see a lot of differentContinueContinue reading “A random hello from the Reference Desk”
Saving All My Favs
We save our favorite everything lately, photos, trinkets, cards, even emails. But what about your favorite agents? In all my agent watching there are some that stand out and resonate with me. In their behavior, their talk, and their hobbies. These are folks I’d like to be friends with and to do business with. ButContinueContinue reading “Saving All My Favs”
A reason to continue writing – a pep talk
Life deals our characters a lot of crap. Okay…. We deal our characters a lot of crap. But why do we love them? Why do we keep writing their stories and rooting for them anyway? Because they make changes when life changes. They make life-altering, heart-throbbing, breath-catching changes. When someone breaks their heart, they planContinueContinue reading “A reason to continue writing – a pep talk”
“Backup And No One Gets Hurt…”
Sounds like a line from any suspense or thriller book but I’m dead serious. Have you backed up your devises lately? I’m recovering from two months with a crashed computer. My fingers are twitchy from all the tiny keypads I’ve been using to keep writing. Don’t be me. I think I had most things savedContinueContinue reading ““Backup And No One Gets Hurt…””
8 Things NOT to Say to an Agent
After my latest writing group I realized how many queries I’ve sent over the years. How much digging I’ve done over and over again. And realized there are some common things that really tick agents off. Let me be really clear, this is not everyone. It’s just what I see commonly on different social sites.ContinueContinue reading “8 Things NOT to Say to an Agent”
Don’t be afraid of periods.
Doyoueverwonderwhygrammarandspellingandpunctuationmatter? Somewhere, a teacher just fainted. Spacing, grammar, spelling, and, yes, punctuation matter. Not just because your former English teacher said so, but because all of these things provide clarity for the reader. The English language is very confusing sometimes, but that’s why it’s so important for writers to constantly improve their knowledge about grammar,ContinueContinue reading “Don’t be afraid of periods.”
Map Progression
A few weeks ago I talked about using maps as a way to figure out plot. As I explore this process I want to go a little deeper with maps. Just like the story itself my maps tend to take a few drafts. My map evolves with my story, plot, and characters. It matters becauseContinueContinue reading “Map Progression”
The Delight is in the Details
When it comes to the details of a story we can tend to sink in the quagmire of description. It can downright Tolkien for some folks. Others of us can see it in our head but it’s missing in action on the page. The rule of THREE for details: Details must be concrete. Be specific.ContinueContinue reading “The Delight is in the Details”
Activating Setting Within Story
Setting can be as shallow as the seasonal stream along the road or as bottomless as an ocean chasm. I’ve talked about setting before in another way and love how it was described at a KDL Conference I attended a year ago. These ideas build upon each other like a blocks. Master each level throughContinueContinue reading “Activating Setting Within Story”
Accountability matters
When my alarm goes off and it’s dark outside, all I want to do it hit snooze. But I always think about my accountability partner. She’s probably working out right now because she’s amazing. I can’t let her down. We’re on this journey together. So I get up and, after walking my dogs, I changeContinueContinue reading “Accountability matters”
Yay! A Rejection Due to Similarity
If you’ve gotten a rejection from an agent that says, “I really like this story and it’s a good fit for my tastes, BUT I already have something similar on my list.” You know it hurts. You’re close but getting an agent can be like a chasm you can throw your manuscript across but notContinueContinue reading “Yay! A Rejection Due to Similarity”
Holy Homesteading 