Category Archives: Craft

10 Tips for Building Believable Love Stories

Love stories are popular, eternal, and some of readers’ favorite plots. So why are they so rarely good (or as good as they could be)? I think because we often don’t believe in the romance, in the characters, in the story. But the good news is that it’s easy to send your love story from lukewarmContinue reading “10 Tips for Building Believable Love Stories”

What I’ve Learn After 50 Blog Posts (Tips & Tricks)

TA DA!  (TWEET, TWEET!)  WE MADE IT! Happy 50th post on this website.  I was kind of surprised that it sneaked up on me.  But I’ve learned a lot since March 2nd, 2013 and I want to share what I have learned with any would-be writers or bloggers — 10 Things I’ve Learned About BloggingContinue reading “What I’ve Learn After 50 Blog Posts (Tips & Tricks)”

How to Move to the Next Level as a Writer — 10 Tips That Could Make You Well-Known and Famous

I consider myself an intermediate writer.  I’ve been writing seriously for fifteen years and am just now moving into the publishing game.  Wherever you are in your writing journey, you probably want to move up to the next rung on the ladder.  Here are ten ideas to get there – 1.  Write More That’s reallyContinue reading “How to Move to the Next Level as a Writer — 10 Tips That Could Make You Well-Known and Famous”

A Writer’s ‘Most Enjoyable’ TV Shows List

I put the question of this ‘top ten’ to my sister, with the stipulation of ‘most enjoyable’.  The reason was not to exclude hard-to-watch dramas but rather to alleviate the fears that one would have in creating a BEST list.  So this is really about my favorites, not the ones I believe should be onContinue reading “A Writer’s ‘Most Enjoyable’ TV Shows List”

“You Can’t Get Firefly by Rebooting Bonanza.”

My sister Sarah said the above quote and I thought it was so true. We live in a swirling media storm of sequels, re-boots, re-imaginings, prequels, adaptations, updates, and spin-offs.  Our summer movie slates are full of sequels and three-quells and our fall movie schedules are full of play and book adaptations.  The new seasonContinue reading ““You Can’t Get Firefly by Rebooting Bonanza.””

Ten Ways to Improve One Sentence

Warning: insane writers only need apply. “They brought him no sweet lullabies, indeed, the heavy air of the stifling little room sang only with the slight ringing of ghost trumpets, each calling him toward an inescapable future.” — Averil, pondering a sword and a gift from a magical being, in Other Gods Okay — IContinue reading “Ten Ways to Improve One Sentence”

The Novelist’s To-Do List for Greatness

Today I finished the first draft of my third novel, ‘Fall Street’ (claps on the back, applause, and confetti here).  Now, the more times I do this the easier it gets, but I still remember being a nervous newbie who couldn’t imagine writing a whole book.   So with that in mind, here’s my very simpleContinue reading “The Novelist’s To-Do List for Greatness”

Tips for the Newborn Writer

When did I become a writer?  Truthfully, I don’t know.  I am just the kid who never stopped telling stories.  I was homeschooled, out in the Athens, GA countryside, making up tales (many involving pretending I was a wild horse).  Later, as a teenager, I changed to people-based stories.  Also,  my sister and I wouldContinue reading “Tips for the Newborn Writer”

How Long Should We Wait to Start Living Our Dreams?

I told my friend Nancy, the poet, that when I had four novels finished, I thought I could become a ‘professional novelist’.  She asked, ‘Shouldn’t you be able to do that with one book?’  Therein lies an interesting question — How Long Should We Wait to Start Living Our Dreams? Now, for the dream ofContinue reading “How Long Should We Wait to Start Living Our Dreams?”