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”
Tag Archives: writing
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…””
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”
Creating organization for creatives
Do you love lists or are you a visual person? I love lists. I have so many lists: a to-do list at job 1, another one at job 2, a meal plan list, a grocery list, a list of writing projects I’m working on and plan to work on, a random to-do list on myContinueContinue reading “Creating organization for creatives”
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”
‘What if?’ insurance
We have car insurance and health insurance, but what about “What if?” insurance? What if your car breaks down? What if you’re laid off? What if you get seriously sick? What if your computer dies and the manuscript you’ve been working on for two years dies with it? What if you get in a carContinueContinue reading “‘What if?’ insurance”
A Coffee Date
I need to say a HUGE thank you! 500 of you have liked our blog enough to follow us on a weekly basis. That makes my heart so glad and we are honored. Thank you! As a blog we are going to try something new and I’d like to take a moment to chat aboutContinueContinue reading “A Coffee Date”
Using Maps for Plotting
I have great writing friend who is brilliant with characters. Whereas my skills lie in the plot. We could learn a lot from one another. We tried the other day and came up with a functional medium, we hope. Here goes, if you start with characters or with plot try this tactic and see ifContinueContinue reading “Using Maps for Plotting”
Letting Go of Perfect
Some days I’m convinced perfectionism is a shape shifter. As I edit my drafts and continue down this writing path I get more and more ‘finished’ projects. At least I think they are finished, till I read them again a week or two later. What happened to my perfect project? Why do I hate theContinueContinue reading “Letting Go of Perfect”
Finding Your Picture Book’s Place
So you a have the most wonderful, adorable, unique idea for a picture book. Great! But what kind of picture book is it? Does it matter? Yes, it really does matter if you are planning on sending those words out into the world. First, you’ll need to decide on the age range of your story.ContinueContinue reading “Finding Your Picture Book’s Place”
Using Arc Beyond Characters
I’ve talked about character before but I’m going deeper this time. Have you ever thought about giving a character like arc to things that technically are not characters? Did I just lose you? What I’m getting at is that characters are not the only ones that change within a story. At least they shouldn’t beContinueContinue reading “Using Arc Beyond Characters”
Get your creativity flowing again
When your creativity flows more like a slow trickle instead of a gushing waterfall, it’s time to rest. I could be poetic and say something like… Creativity is an ever-flowing waterfall. Whether it’s trickling or gushing, it’s always running. Until it stops… But I’m too tired for that right now. I’ve been working A LOTContinueContinue reading “Get your creativity flowing again”
The Young Adult Book Buyout
I’m a little riled up. I just saw a list circulating Twitter for young adult stories set in college. Young adult is supposed to limit the age of the characters in the book to 18. So unless you are all writing the next version of Young Sheldon Cooper I don’t know why this list exists.ContinueContinue reading “The Young Adult Book Buyout”
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”
Holy Homesteading 