Awesome author Catherine Ryan Howard (who you should be following) said, “But what I really love about September is that it’s a fresh start, a perfect little package of time between now and New Year’s Eve in which you have every chance of achieving your goals and sauntering smugly into 2014 with a smile on your face.Continue reading “Welcome to September — Start Your Engines”
Tag Archives: Writing
Warning! You are Living in the Pop Culture Moment of Your Dreams
I just realized this year that we are living in the kind of time and place we are going to annoy those younger than us about for the rest of our lives. Now, I know summer movies haven’t been that great. I almost didn’t write this because of that. But, I believe the ups areContinue reading “Warning! You are Living in the Pop Culture Moment of Your Dreams”
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”
What Has Made Your Life Worth Living?
I am faced with this question as I move to complete ‘How to Come Alive: A Guide to Achieving Your Dreams in Life’. It’s a short book, but long on ideas. Basically, it’s the 25 things that I contribute most to my success so far upon planet Earth. And it made me wonder — WhatContinue reading “What Has Made Your Life Worth Living?”
The Super Secret, #1 Tip for Greatness: Action
Graphic by the great Austin Kleon That it. Just one word, one idea. No long list, no thirty-seven bullet points, just — this: THE SECRET TO GREATNESS Action. I’ve been trying a lot of things this year, but in the end it has all led to this moment. This typing, this game plan to livingContinue reading “The Super Secret, #1 Tip for Greatness: Action”
How Often Should You Publish a Book?
Or perhaps the real question is, how often should you self publish a book? If you’re like me, you use to think of book releases as these nebulous, once-in-a-blue-moon happenings (when the stars aligned and the book publishers were feeling frisky). But now, if you’re a self published author, you are only constrained by how fastContinue reading “How Often Should You Publish a Book?”
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”
Follow Me and I’ll Follow You: Social Media and Self Promotion
Great post from Rob White. The idea of seeing people as ‘dollar signs with arms and legs’ is exactly what I don’t like about online promotion. But I think there is a better, classier way to connect with readers and I think Rob’s showing us the way — Follow Me and I’ll Follow You:Continue reading “Follow Me and I’ll Follow You: Social Media and Self Promotion”
Take Action
I am gearing up for the rest of the year, and I’ve basically decided that there’s no magic bullet, secret answer, or magic guru who can get me where I want to go. There’s only me. I also know the next steps I need to take — want to get fit? Exercise more and eatContinue reading “Take Action”
Female Characters — Why God, Why Is It So Hard?
I am a woman. I have an amazing sister who’s a woman. My mother was one of my biggest influences. I believe women can do anything and people are a lot more alike than they are different. SO, WHY ARE FEMALE CHARACTERS STILL SUCH A CHALLENGE TO WRITE? I’ve thought a lot about this questionContinue reading “Female Characters — Why God, Why Is It So Hard?”
Stay Extraordinary 