-
Book Review: The Bletchley Ridde
by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin publisher’s synopsis Remember, you are bound by the Official Secrets Act… Summer, 1940. Nineteen-year-old Jakob Novis and his quirky younger sister Lizzie share a love of riddles and puzzles. And now they’re living inside of one. The quarrelsome siblings find themselves amidst one of the greatest secrets of World…
-
Keep Writing
Sometimes you have to write the wrong words first. We’ve all heard you can’t edit a blank page. And that’s true. So put the words on the paper. Don’t think about how the characters are flat, the action unrealistic, and the setting bland. Don’t stop because you’ll probably end up cutting most of the words. …
-
Book Review: The Scorpio Races
by Maggie Stiefvater publisher’s synopsis Some race to win. Others race to survive. It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die. At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning…
-
Writing Resource: WordCounter
It is tragically funny how many words and phrases I overuse while drafting. A substantial amount of my line editing is deleting those repeatitive weasel words. And one of my favorite tools for finding my overused words is WordCounter. WordCounter is a free program that you can paste your writing into. It then gives you…
-
Writers’ Conferences Part Four: Personal Thoughts
This summer will be my sixth writers’ conference. So here are some thoughts and reflections I have on conferences. I hope that they encourage you, whether you’re a new or veteran attendee. *It takes time to find your people. I knew literally no one at my first conference. I met two other girls but we…
-
Book Review: Elysium Tide
by James R. Hannibal publisher’s synopsis Dr. Peter Chesterfield is one of the Royal London Hospital’s top neurosurgeons. He is also a workaholic, ordered by his boss to take a week off to attend a medical symposium at the luxurious Elysium Grand on the island of Maui. While there, Peter pulls a woman with a…
-
Writers’ Conferences Part Three: What to Bring
Whether or not you travel often, there a few things you might not think of to pack for a writers’ conference in addition to your normal packing list. Here are some extra things I recommend bringing with! *A notebook. Whether or not you’re a notetaker, bring a pen and paper. Trust me. You’ll likely end…
-
Book Review: Breath of Bones
by Tricia and Nathan Goyer publisher’s synopsis When darkness falls, a new guardian emerges. Kateřina Dubová has always aspired to walk in her father’s footsteps as a respected journalist, and the Second World War presents a unique opportunity for her to prove her worth to the world. A tip about an assassination attempt on a…
-
Writers’ Conferences Part Two: Practical Advice
Conferences can be scary, especially if you’re shy, quiet, or introverted. But that shouldn’t stop you from going. If I could do it, so can you. 😉 Here’s some advice for your conference experience. *It’s okay to be overwhelmed. Lots of people, lots of books, lots of advice, lots of stimulation—it’s a lot of take…
Hailey Huntington 