Slow down to go faster. We all know the fable of the tortoise and the hare: The moral of the story: Slow and steady wins the race. Unfortunately we live in a society that values busyness and productivity. We boast when we have busy schedules. We celebrate multitasking. We go and go and go andContinue reading “Writing Mindset: Slow Down to Go Faster”
Tag Archives: writing fiction
Writing & Baseball
Earlier this week, I posted on Instagram: I was feeling pretty motivated after that “no,” to be honest. I was firmly in the “let’s get rejected today” mindset of using it as fuel to keep going, keep trying. And then… I got another rejection on a partial Tuesday. The doubts crept in. Cut toContinue reading “Writing & Baseball”
Getting to Know Your Villain
On Monday, I posted a quote on Instagram: It can be tempting, easy even, to simply see the world through our protagonist’s eyes. It’s actually a necessity, especially as many books written these days are in close third or first person. We need to know our protagonist’s intimately as well as how they see theContinue reading “Getting to Know Your Villain”
What I Learned About Writing From My Son’s Track Meet
My youngest and a group of his pals decided to try out for the track team this spring. Despite having an uncle for a track coach, my knowledge of the sport is limited to whatever I happen to soak in during the summer Olympics and is quickly forgotten for four years until the next round. Continue reading “What I Learned About Writing From My Son’s Track Meet”
The Revision Road Map is Here!
OMG, y’all! It’s here!! I am so excited to introduce you to the Revision Road Map. I know how lost a writer can feel during a revision. I have been that lost. That feeling of just wanting someone to tell you what to do already. That feeling of the end getting farther and farther away. Continue reading “The Revision Road Map is Here!”
Spring Into Writing!
Spring is springing where I live in central NC. The daffodils and tulips have come and gone. The pear trees are snowing down on street corners–beautiful despite their dead fish aroma. And the pine pollen is fit to bursting (we’re at slight dusting right now but I imagine we’ll be at full on yellow cloudContinue reading “Spring Into Writing!”
The Trick to Mastering Show Don’t Tell In Your Fiction Writing: Be Specific
The number one piece of feedback I give writers regardless of where they are in the writing process is: BE SPECIFIC Often, a sentence or a scene or the protagonist’s stakes are entirely too vague. Vague writing only leaves readers confused, disengaged, or having to fill in the blanks based on their own experiences whichContinue reading “The Trick to Mastering Show Don’t Tell In Your Fiction Writing: Be Specific”
Writing a Novel is a Marathon Not a Sprint: How a Book Coach Can Help
As a writer, I often wish for a magic wand that will make all the things happen faster. The drafting. The revising. The proofing. The pitching. The querying. The response time. The submissions. The wait time again. The publishing process. But the fact of the matter is, it takes what it takes. And there isContinue reading “Writing a Novel is a Marathon Not a Sprint: How a Book Coach Can Help”
Finding Time to Write Your Novel
At the end of January I gave a talk at a local women’s empowerment conference about the importance of creativity in our lives, regardless of whether it is our career or not. In fact, I’d argue that it needn’t be our careers. Creating for creating’s sake is a beautiful endeavor. I hate that our capitalistContinue reading “Finding Time to Write Your Novel”
The Goldilocks of Novel Planning
This week on Instagram, I talked about planning. I’m starting a new manuscript this week. Although “starting” is a bit of a misnomer. I am starting the physical manuscript, but I’ve been working on the story since the writing retreat I went to in October. I left that retreat with a kernel of an idea.Continue reading “The Goldilocks of Novel Planning”