I just had a birthday and I’m a tad bit ashamed of my age considering I’ve still not hit it big with publishing my book. But more than that, do you ever struggle with not hitting your goals? I know I do. Do you ever wonder if you will become a real published author? Let’sContinueContinue reading “Breakup with Doubt”
Category Archives: Writing
Manuscript Master List
A year ago if you’d asked me how I track my submissions I would’ve said Query Tracker or nothing. Literally, I had nothing else. If you’ve used Query Tracker it’s a great platform for finding an agent, less so for a publisher let alone a magazine submission. So here I am a dozen months andContinueContinue reading “Manuscript Master List”
Creative Techniques for Writers
Hi I’m Hannah and I’m a doodler… and I love it. To get things going for a new project there is nothing more refreshing than a few blank pages of paper and a gel pen. I’ve been working out my plans for a new book and filling pages of mind maps, bubble charts, timelines andContinueContinue reading “Creative Techniques for Writers”
The Chemistry of Critique Partners
The elusive and rare critique partner. Nearly impossible to find in the wild but possible to create? Let’s experiment, can a good beta reader or writer friend become an excellent critique partner? You’ve heard the old adage to have a friend you must be a friend? Same goes for critique partners. Best place to start isContinueContinue reading “The Chemistry of Critique Partners”
Where Do Ideas Come From?
I’ll confess I love to brainstorm. I have far more ideas than I have time to write about. But if you look at my life in general it’s pretty uneventful, most would consider it boring. Lets examine how I live. I’m a stay at home mom for one, I watch far more Disney than IContinueContinue reading “Where Do Ideas Come From?”
A Writer’s Phases of Rejection- a Mini Memoir
Aggghhh!!! Another rejection, personal too, so close yet so unbelievably out of reach. Have you felt this? Where did you go next? My current state of pregnancy makes a nice shot of tequila or deep glass of wine not an option. So what does a sober person do with rejection? Here are the stages I foundContinueContinue reading “A Writer’s Phases of Rejection- a Mini Memoir”
5 Publishers of Kid Lit, No Agent Required
I have a few small stories I’ve been attempting to sell through the magazine market. Let’s be real though kid lit magazines are few and far between. Once you’ve checked word counts against what you’ve written the pickings get even slimmer. So next thought was to go through an agent but unless you’re an author/illustrator most agentsContinueContinue reading “5 Publishers of Kid Lit, No Agent Required”
100 Posts and Counting: aka The Benefits of Blogging
While our combined Quest Type posts are topping over 250, this post will officially be my 100th. Part of me is so excited to still be doing this and another part of me thinks I maybe type too much. Regardless, I hope you are getting as much out of these posts as I am. ButContinueContinue reading “100 Posts and Counting: aka The Benefits of Blogging”
How Writing Groups Can Help You
Guest Post by Lori M. Myers “I just want to thank…” No, this isn’t an Oscar speech. It’s a shout out to my writing groups on my book’s dedication page. My success and persistence as a writer wouldn’t be possible without them. So let me ask you this: Are you shy about sharing your workContinueContinue reading “How Writing Groups Can Help You”
Lend Me Your Ear: Podcasts for Writers
Having a toddler I’ve found my time to actually read has dwindled to nothing and it’s so frustrating. What I have found time for however is audio, while writing, while cooking, and any other feasible time I can squeak in 30-ish minutes. Not only have I found podcasts that offer helpful advise but also toContinueContinue reading “Lend Me Your Ear: Podcasts for Writers”
Short Story Backtrack
I’m totally 100% dedicated to my new book. But then I found this anthology I want to submit to. So now what to do? Do I pause my new fantasy to go down a rabbit hole into speculative historical or do I continue on and ignore the muse in the corner yelling at me? That’sContinueContinue reading “Short Story Backtrack”
Twitter for Writers: Breaking In
If you’ve been on the fence about joining Twitter specifically for writing let me give you all the reason’s to do so. The Children’s Writers & Illustrator’s Market 2017 dedicates a full article to the topic quoting several top notch agents in the process here is an excerpt: Agent Thao Le of Sandra Dijkstra LieraryContinueContinue reading “Twitter for Writers: Breaking In”
7 Ways to Find Inspiration
A Guest Post by Theresa Braun I started wondering where it was that I get my inspiration when I write. Here, I’ve come up with a list of things that have triggered my creativity. My hope is that you might find some additional ways to spark your own. Travel: Going to new places in oneContinueContinue reading “7 Ways to Find Inspiration”
Setting Up Setting
This is how the conversation in my head went as I sat reading Setting by Bickham over my holiday break: Chapter 1- Story setting is important. Chapter 5- Super-duper important. End of Book- Crap, I’ve got to re-examine everything… Setting: the surroundings or environment of anything. For a book this can be anything from aContinueContinue reading “Setting Up Setting”
Book Looks: Why Character Looks Matter
I recently read a Twitter post stating they were changing there main character’s appearance to “average” to make her more “relatable” for female readers. This is the moment I wish for an unlike button. It’s not that book characters shouldn’t be average looking, by all means I’d appreciate it if more books were realistic. However,ContinueContinue reading “Book Looks: Why Character Looks Matter”
Starting Fresh- A new book journey
After getting my first fully edited book done and out there I’ve started working on something new. I will not be writing the same way this time. This time I will be intentional about all of it. This time I started with a question, something I needed to create an answer to in the formContinueContinue reading “Starting Fresh- A new book journey”
Competition versus Contest
Have you ever felt no matter how hard you work at it your writing it never seems to come out on top? Agents reject your prose, your Twitter pitches stagnate unheard, and editors point out a lack of sparkle. Take heart, writing is a contest not a competition. According to Dictionary.com here is the definitionContinueContinue reading “Competition versus Contest”
Group Blogging for Beginners
So you’re blogging or thinking about blogging and it’s so tough. Not only is hard to post regularly, it’s hard to think of topics. If you are blogging with others it’s all multiplied by a bazillion stress level. What if so-so doesn’t post on time? Or there post is written poorly? Or worse we looseContinueContinue reading “Group Blogging for Beginners”
Writing in the Cracks of Life
Lets be real. If you love something you find time for it. The less effort it takes the better. That’s why it’s easy to find ourselves parked in front of the tube binge watching (insert guilty pleasure here). We love to get lost in a different world other than our own. Creative passions can beContinueContinue reading “Writing in the Cracks of Life”
Seriously Funny Writing
If I’m being totally honest I’ve never been a funny person. I’ve dreamed of being the one telling an epic story of embarrassment and having the whole room erupt in laughter. Never happened, not once. So I gave up on trying to be funny. Sure it happens on occasion, I get lucky and make someoneContinueContinue reading “Seriously Funny Writing”
Holy Homesteading 