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”
Tag Archives: novel
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”
Disney’s Frozen as a Case Study in Scene
My toddler has her favorite parts of movies (cue Let It Go) and I find it fascinating how movies effortlessly transition- just like a story scene should. I study these transitions to improve my writing. Next time you’re staring down the barrel of another Disney movie try this! Go to the scene selection menu onContinueContinue reading “Disney’s Frozen as a Case Study in Scene”
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”
Nature Writing 101
Guest Post by Janelle Franz blogging at Invent Your Story. I’m not a professor. Before you hit X, you need to know I did take a nature writing class in college. So, I am professionally taught. Right now, my butt is on a rock and an oak root is buddying up to my coffee mug.ContinueContinue reading “Nature Writing 101”
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”
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”
Holy Homesteading 