10 Minute Writer

I have to confess, I lied. My current WIP is not the first novel I’ve started. It’s the fourth. All of them were so insignificant, I forgot they existed. My first attempt happened in college, in the late ’80′s for a college writing course. I had to type it on a university computer (I didn’t [...]

Read the rest of What I’m Doing Differently Next Time (Or How I Want To Be Like Stephen King)

This is the biggest problem, I’ve seen so far with us writers: We’re a little moody. You can accurately describe us as sensitive, introspective, emotional, melodramatic and sentimental. We view the world through lenses that are not rose-colored, but foggy with the condensation of our own tears. Every bad report, inconvenience, irritation, interruption, noise and [...]

Read the rest of Sitting Alone In A Bubble (Will Someone Please Turn On The Lights?)

I won something again! I must be on a roll! This time I won a free ten-page critique by Cassandra Marshall, an actual writing industry professional. What is good is that for the very first time, my wip will be reviewed by someone in the business. What is bad is that for the very first [...]

Read the rest of Cassandra is Taking A Look (And I’m A Nervous Wreck!)

Recently, in between cleaning, cooking and writing ten minutes a day, I had a chance to sit down with Juan Toobee Phamous, a career counselor, specializing in the pursuit of greatness. Mr. Phamous is a little feeble and far younger than he appears. Apparently, his job is a hard one. This is a transcript of [...]

Read the rest of My Interview With A Greatness Counselor (I Think He Has My Number)

My new friend Nicole at It’s All About Writing recently awarded me with The Versatile Blogger Award! She said, Oh, and these people are being awarded (in no particular order!) because I think they are absolutely amazing writers with lots of talent, and I love getting to know more about them as we go. Oh, [...]

Read the rest of I Didn’t Win A Christy*, But I Won This! (And It’s Awesome!)

With the objective of building an online platform, I have run into a problem. The problem is that it puts me, my brand, my name, my work, everything associated with me, into the public universe that is the internet. Part of it is awesome. I’ve met many wonderful people, I’ve learned much about writing, I’ve [...]

Read the rest of Sweeping Off My Front Porch (And Wipe Your Feet, Or You’ll Get Whacked With My Broom!)

Cassandra Marshall, one of my TWF’s is giving away her expertise! If you go to her blog here, and leave a comment, and you win, then she will edit your WIP for free! I really, really want to win this (since I can’t afford a real editor and I could use a little encouragement) Anyhoo, [...]

Read the rest of How To Win A Free Professional Edit from a Pro!

I love Twitter. I like to follow people who have one or more of the following words in their bio: Mom, writer, published, homeschooler, outdoors, editor, blogger, lover of Jesus, agent. If they strike me as creative or witty and have none of those words, I might follow anyway. I avoid those with the following [...]

Read the rest of Lies I Believed About My Twitter Writer Friends

Back when I was not a mother and I temped for a living, I lugged around a big spiral notebook so that I could write. I didn’t have a specific project, but I wanted to use my down time to become a better writer. (This was ’96-’97, LONG before I had my iphone, Twitter and [...]

Read the rest of 100 Environments or Settings To Be Used In Scenes

Sophia Michelle, Emma Faith, and Melody Jane!! Thank you everyone who put in their suggestions, who voted and who are still waiting around for some type of closure. Now we need to choose one. Only one. My poor POV character Suzanne has been pregnant for over three years and we can’t torture her by giving [...]

Read the rest of And The Top Three Names Are . . . (Choose Your Top Name Now!)