Random, Fun

Make a book plot!

Ready to make up a book plot? 😉 Genre (birth month): January-March: Mystery April-June: Fantasy July-September: Historical October-December: Sci-Fi Trope (shirt color): Red/Pink: Chosen One Green/Blue: Found Family Yellow/Orange: Secret Identity  Black/White: Friends-to-Lovers Antagonist Trait (favorite drink): Coffee: Heartlessly ruthless Tea: Superiorly cunning Water: Always one step ahead Juice: Endless resources/connections Ending (current weather): Sunny: Happily… Continue reading Make a book plot!

Uncategorized

Onward

Sometimes, it’s hard to keep going, to keep writing. Discouragement and doubts rage. You don’t seem to be getting anywhere. Maybe you should just quit, you keep thinking to yourself.  Dear friend, press onward. Find someone you won’t let you just give up.  Imposter syndrome and writing doubts have been a huge struggle of mine.… Continue reading Onward

Book Reviews, Writing

Writing Resource: Save the Cat! Writes a Novel

by Jessica Brody SAVE THE CAT!® by Blake Snyder is a popular screenwriting book series and storytelling methodology used by screenwriters, directors, and studio execs across Hollywood. Now, for the first time ever, bestselling author and writing teacher, Jessica Brody, takes the beloved Save the Cat! plotting principals and applies them to the craft of… Continue reading Writing Resource: Save the Cat! Writes a Novel

Writing life

How Far You’ve Come

Look back at how far you’ve come.  I have a line-a-day five-year journal, where I jot down a sentence or two each day, and can see what I wrote for that day in the past years. A while ago, I saw my note from last year when my story “Dandelion Wishes” was announced as a finalist… Continue reading How Far You’ve Come

Updates, Writing

Writing Update!

How’s writing going for you, friend? Mine has had some ups and downs, but it’s going well.  I got Brontide back from beta readers mid-January. While struggling through brainstorming edits, I realized that it had some issues at the foundation of the plot that were throwing the whole book off. So, that set me off… Continue reading Writing Update!

Writing, Writing life

Newsletters (pt.2)

On Tuesday, I talked about why readers should subscribe to author/writer newsletters. Now let’s talk about some reasons why writers should have one. They’re similar to why readers should subscribe, but a little different.1. Publishers want authors with newsletters. Social media is a fickle thing. The algorithm can decide to tank your posts, but aside… Continue reading Newsletters (pt.2)

reading, Writing, Writing life

Newsletters (pt. 1)

If you’ve spent enough time in the bookish world, you’ve probably heard about writer/author newsletters. But what are they?An author newsletter (sometimes also referred to as an email list) is essentially an e-newsletter in which writers typically give some behind-the-scenes peeks or updates about their writing, recommend books, and talk about life. They generally aren’t… Continue reading Newsletters (pt. 1)

Writing, Writing life

You Don’t Have to Do Social Media

To my fellow writers on social media, You don’t have to do it all.Social media can be overwhelming. There’s so much you can do, and there’s always the pressure to do more. Plus, social media can be a time-sucking black hole.But you don’t have to do everything on social media. You don’t have to post… Continue reading You Don’t Have to Do Social Media

Writing, Writing life

Comparison

Writer, stop comparing yourself.I think there are few things that kill creativity as quickly as comparison does. Yet we writers compare ourselves all the time. Word counts, publications, followers—we compare it all.We need to stop. Comparison can grow imposter syndrome, cause discouragement, and possibly create tension between writers. It can lead us to jealousy, which… Continue reading Comparison

Book Reviews, Writing

Writing Resource: Fight Write

by Carla Hoch publisher's synopsis Whether a side-street skirmish or an all-out war, fight scenes bring action to the pages of every kind of fiction. But a poorly done or unbelievable fight scene can ruin a great book in an instant. In Fight Write you'll learn practical tips, terminology, and the science behind crafting realistic fight scenes… Continue reading Writing Resource: Fight Write