My youngest “graduated” from middle school this week. It’s fine. I’m fine. Everything is fine. Before we had kids I used to see friend’s preschool graduation pictures and think “That is ridiculous. It’s preschool!” Then my nearly five year old donned his graduation cap and clutched a rolled up certificate and I got it. LifeContinue reading “My Favorite Things: June 2024”
Tag Archives: writing help
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”
Avoiding Rookie Writing Mistakes
Rookie mistakes. We all make them. Mine? Writing a novel without ever studying structure. Surely this was something I’d just know by osmosis from all that reading and those English classes I took. Wrong. Turns out, I hadn’t a clue. I came close. Maybe even serviceably close. But I didn’t know a lot and itContinue reading “Avoiding Rookie Writing Mistakes”
There Goes My Hero…
In May, my husband and I went to the Foo Fighters concert. It was AMAZING! One of my favorite songs is “My Hero.” Rock is all about the big, the flashy, the in your face. The extraordinary. Rock stars and super heroes all seem to live in the same rarefied air of our cultural awe. Continue reading “There Goes My Hero…”
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”
Eliminate the Unnecessary in Your Writing
As a book coach, I see a lot of the common problems in the manuscripts I read. It might be unclear character stakes or story trajectory issues or a bit of head hopping in those early chapters. But one thing I see a lot when I’ve got an early draft in my hands, is tooContinue reading “Eliminate the Unnecessary in Your Writing”
My Favorite Things: April 2024
I’d be lying if I didn’t say that my favorite thing this month wasn’t my Revision Road Map, so let’s just get that shameless plug out of the way! I loved working on it and have been so excited to bring it to you. If you’re struggling in your revision, give it a try. ItContinue reading “My Favorite Things: April 2024”
After Typing THE END: Tips for What’s Next
Where does most of your writing happen? In the draft stage, probably. It has to, right? Where once there was a blank page, now there are 90,000 words. Now, where does most of your story telling happen? It can be tempting to say that most of our storytelling also happens in the draft stage. It’sContinue reading “After Typing THE END: Tips for What’s Next”
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!”