There is a sweet spot for creatives while dreaming. It occurs somewhere between just awke and barley asleep. Your dreams are vivid and you have a certain measure of control. This level of awareness in dreams is called lucid dreaming. Often when one is asleep, there is something in consciousness which declares that what thenContinueContinue reading “Dreamy Ideas”
Tag Archives: book
Rooted in Non-Fiction
If you remember third grade science you know most growing things have roots. When it comes to your blooming creativity it too is rooted in something. That something is your experiences, conversations, and head knowledge. The best place for more head knowledge is the non-fiction section at your bookstore, library, or computer screen. I hearContinueContinue reading “Rooted in Non-Fiction”
Knotted: Plots & Rapunzel’s Hair
I have longer hair and on occasion (more than I’d care to admit) I don’t get a chance to brush it. While this isn’t a great place to be for my hair, it’s excellent for a story plot. No one wants to be board. No one wants to be able to guess the ending. EveryContinueContinue reading “Knotted: Plots & Rapunzel’s Hair”
Be A Time Hoarder
In some ways I compare myself to a dragon. I’m fiercely protective of my own and a bit of a hoarder (you’ve seen my books right?). While most hording tendencies I keep a rein on I’m actually doing the opposite with time. I really like my time. It’s in limited amounts and rare in myContinueContinue reading “Be A Time Hoarder”
Writing Resources for Kid Lit
I’ve been writing kids stories going on four years now and I’ve complied a list of all my favorite resources. Things that go back to over and over again. I hope sharing will help you on your writing journey as well. Inspiration: Anything can inspire you for your next story. Watch around you for thoseContinueContinue reading “Writing Resources for Kid Lit”
So Much More Than One Story
I’d like to formally announce I will be published in the online journal Months To Years! Read The Last Bumblebee in the Winter 2018 issue for yourself HERE. I’m thrilled. Let me explain why this is such a big deal. Stay with me. One, my family inspired the idea. Two, it’s the first story I’veContinueContinue reading “So Much More Than One Story”
Finding Your People
We are all blessed with a few friends in our lives that we cannot do without at some point or another. Friends are necessary. However, writing is by default a lonely endeavor. Lonely out of necessity. You can’t hold a conversation between your own head and a blank page while talking to your cubicle mate.ContinueContinue reading “Finding Your People”
NaNoWriMo & the Season of Joy
Like Christmas presents, I’ve been wrapping up the loose ends on my stories for National Novel Writing Month. I am not a “winner” coming short of the fifty thousand words needed. However, I feel like a winner. Why? Because I’ve been writing. I’ve been proving to myself that with two tiny children I can doContinueContinue reading “NaNoWriMo & the Season of Joy”
NaNoWriMo Halftime Takeaways
So you’ve decided to try to write your novel this month like so many hopefuls out there. Whether you are on track, behind or ahead of the pace, congratulate yourself on getting words down! You’ve already won by simply beginning. If you are like me you’ve already hit a few snags in your story. It’sContinueContinue reading “NaNoWriMo Halftime Takeaways”
Jot That Down: A Writer’s Conference in Hindsight
Like the jitters I get after drinking a Red Bull , there is something special and energizing about being around your tribe of people. My tribe is creatives, specifically writers. This weekend I was blessed to attend a conference and have five hours of time to soak it all up. Carpooling with a dear writingContinueContinue reading “Jot That Down: A Writer’s Conference in Hindsight”
Fishing for an Agent
I love to fish. But with toddlers it isn’t something I get to do as often as I’d like. So now I settle for figurative fishing by quering my stories to agents, editors, and publishers. One thing is certain, if you never cast into the water you will never catch anything. But if you doContinueContinue reading “Fishing for an Agent”
Woods Full of Story Trees
I’m blessed to have several writer friends close enough to meet with and it seems we are facing the same conundrum. What story to focus on next? I mean how do you really pick? It’s like picking a favorite tree in the woods. Do you go for the big project and tackle it? Or doContinueContinue reading “Woods Full of Story Trees”
Library Remnants, New Life, & Poetry
So I’m a bit of a book hoarder and when I see a pile of free books it’s hard to resist rummaging through each worn title. Sometimes I find a subject I’m genuinely curious about and want to read- great. But what about the two dozen that don’t have a happy home? Book art. HaveContinueContinue reading “Library Remnants, New Life, & Poetry”
Crickets, Feedback, and Moving Forward
I’ve submitted my stories so many places and rarely do I hear more than crickets stuffed inside form rejection letters. The crickets are a bit annoyed but not harmed in the making of this blog post. So you’ll understand my delight when a recent rejection returned with feedback! Say what?! Insert happy dance in theContinueContinue reading “Crickets, Feedback, and Moving Forward”
Picture Books and Other Tough Things
It has recently occurred to me, the more stories I write the less and less adult they seem, or maybe it’s my toddlers speaking through me. Either way it’s a tough business. There are only a handful of children’s magazines available to submit to and fewer still big publishers that want to look at yourContinueContinue reading “Picture Books and Other Tough Things”
Writing Takeaways & Quotes
We are headed into year three of blogging and I can’t help but remember where I’ve been as a writer, compare it to where I am now, and look at others wisdom in this area. For one blogging has made me a better writer, I try to write tight and concise to save readers timeContinueContinue reading “Writing Takeaways & Quotes”
Breakup with Doubt
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”
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”
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?”
Holy Homesteading 