Category Archives: beginnings

Is Something Holding You Back In Your Writing Career?

Give yourself permission to dream big this year! I have been holding back on something.  I think it’s a big something.  It’s no secret I am a woman of a certain age (the kind of age with a big 0 coming after it in January) and all the fun challenges that come with it. IContinue reading “Is Something Holding You Back In Your Writing Career?”

My Word for 2025

Every year, I pick a word as a mental homebase. A reminder, a guide post, a mantra that keeps me on track.  Last year’s word was mountain. And boy, was 2024 a climb.  It wasn’t my most joyful year, though not my most sorrowful either. It was a year where I was anticipating a lotContinue reading “My Word for 2025”

Back to School/Back to Revising & Best of August

It’s back to school week here for my kids. I find this time of year more inspiring work-wise than the new year, honestly. When I was a kid, Fall was our chance to try on different parts of our personality as we experienced new friends, subjects, and interests. Each year was a new beginning filledContinue reading “Back to School/Back to Revising & Best of August”

The Importance of Your Novel’s Opening Pages on Your Novel’s Ending

While journalism and novel writing are two different animals, both need to hook the reader and impart important information from the get-go. Journalism (news articles, magazines, broadcast news scripts) stories are told in inverted pyramid style with the who, what, when, where, and why in what’s called the lede–the first sentence or graph. The storyContinue reading “The Importance of Your Novel’s Opening Pages on Your Novel’s Ending”

Stuck at the Start (January Stuck Series Part 2 of 4)

The blank page can be an intimidating thing. Or maybe you have such a great idea that you fear once you start writing it you’ll ruin it. Or you have so many ideas you can’t possibly decide which one to start with and so you don’t start any of them. Or maybe you’ve always wantedContinue reading “Stuck at the Start (January Stuck Series Part 2 of 4)”

Starting In Media Res & Using Backstory: The Bear

SPOILER ALERT: If you have not watched The Bear on Hulu and think you want to (and I would recommend it), then save this post for after you’ve binged it or don’t blame me if I give away any spoilers. You’ve been warned. TRIGGER WARNING: suicide and drug addiction. If you or someone you knowContinue reading “Starting In Media Res & Using Backstory: The Bear”

Rites of Passage Part 2

It’s happening. Today, the little guy will “graduate” from preschool. In some ways, it’s been a long time coming. This is our sixth year at this preschool between the two boys and what I know for sure is that I will not miss that tuition payment. I’ve sat in countless carpool lines, attended a numberContinue reading “Rites of Passage Part 2”