Do you have a revision process? Or does your process look something like not being able to keep track of all your notes and comment and story threads, not to mention character arcs and subplots and layering in emotion? Or, does it look more like an endless cycle of revision-feedback-revision-feedback to the point where youContinue reading “3 Tips to Kickstart Your Revision Process”
Tag Archives: Writing Tips
THEME vs. INTENT: The Small Difference in Your Writing Approach with a Big Impact on Your Reader
When I was in high school, we spent endless hours in AP English classes dissecting a story’s themes. Let’s be honest, I loved an English class, but I do remember wondering if writers really sat down at the page and thought about these themes before writing. Was Melville really contemplating Man vs. Nature or didContinue reading “THEME vs. INTENT: The Small Difference in Your Writing Approach with a Big Impact on Your Reader”
Can You Diagnose Your Story Problem Alone?
I got to ring the bell at my physical therapy office last week for completing my therapy. I started PT in May for a lower back issue. Around the same time I had also developed a shoulder injury, so once the back was under control, we added shoulder, then moved to exclusively shoulder. I wentContinue reading “Can You Diagnose Your Story Problem Alone?”
How Long Does it Take to Write a Book?
It Depends on Your Process I was at a writing event once where a relatively new writer was sharing how he had woken from a dream with a new idea, went to the keyboard, and in a month had “finished” his 100,000+ word book. 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩 That is a blistering pace in a month for aContinue reading “How Long Does it Take to Write a Book?”
Looking for a Quick Fix for Your Writing?
Stop looking. Focus on process instead. I am the first one to preach that writing a novel is a marathon and not a sprint. And yet, I am also constantly keeping my eyes open for a short cut. A quick fix. A faster process. Sound familiar? Whether it’s in my writing or creating a newContinue reading “Looking for a Quick Fix for Your Writing?”
My 2026 Word of the Year
January 1 is as arbitrary a day as any for new starts, because let’s be real. You can start a novel any day. Start working out any day. Resolve to stop getting take out lunch any day. Start a new hobby any day. But, a year is also a container–and I’m all about containers (hello,Continue reading “My 2026 Word of the Year”
What Do You Need to Learn in 2026?
As an oldest daughter who found herself in gifted programs, on the AP track, lauded for her essay writing skills without feeling like I was trying too hard, and told math just wasn’t my subject when I struggled a little more in those classes, imagine my surprise when I got to college and things gotContinue reading “What Do You Need to Learn in 2026?”
My Roller Coaster First Year with my Agent(s)
A year ago this week, I got THE response every writer wants to a query. I had been querying my contemporary fiction novel since late fall of 2023. I was batch querying – so attempting to only send out a few at a time and only sending new queries when I got responses. The goalContinue reading “My Roller Coaster First Year with my Agent(s)”
You Finished Novel November…Now What? Create a revision plan that keeps your momentum moving in the right direction
To all my tired writers out there who just slogged through Novel November: CONGRATS!! You wrote a whole bunch of words you should be proud of. Not because they are particularly special yet, but because you did the hard work of getting the bones of your story down. This is no small feat! At the sameContinue reading “You Finished Novel November…Now What? Create a revision plan that keeps your momentum moving in the right direction”
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?”