Craft
Saturday Morning Review: The Restorer by Sharon Hinck
The Restorer is Sharon Hinck’s first foray into straight fantasy and it is a wonderful read. First off, you need to know that I am NOT a fantasy reader. I couldn’t read JRR Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings or Hobbit until after I saw The Fellowship of the Ring. I simply couldn’t picture the worlds…
Special Invitation to Proposal Writing Teleseminar
I’ve got a great opportunity for you to start this year off on the WRITE foot! A proposal seminar by Terry Whalin, editor, agent, writer and marketer on Wednesday January 9th, 2008 at 4pm PT (7pm ET.) Is one of your goals this year to get that book idea out of your head and into…
Resolved: I will aspire!
At the New Year’s Eve party that my daughter Em gave for her friends, my son (age 12) was asked if he had any New Year’s resolutions. He thought a moment and then said, “Yeah. Eat a high fiber diet!” Wait a sec. Unless Pop Tarts are now considered a health food, I pretty much…
Time Management for the new year!
I always get TONS of requests on info on how I do everything, so just in time for the new year here are some Time Management tips for balancing family, hubby, life, job, friends, house, etc. I’ll be sharing advice from my friends and a few things I’ve done that have WORKED…like this: Last year,…
Finding the Theme in Your Story
Let’s talk about story themes. Stephen King, in his book On Writing (Pocket, 2000) has this to say about theme: “Writing and literature classes can be annoyingly preoccupied by (and pretentious about) theme, approaching it as the most sacred of sacred cows, but (don’t be shocked) it’s really no big deal. If you write a…
Christmas Break Goals
To edit the heck out of my WIP! I have a fool proof plan to get three hours of uninterrupted writing each day during break. Relax and read Put some photos in albums, scrapbook… (yes, I’m being vague about this because as I type I’m not wanting to stress about the stacks of photos, cds,…
Writing Letters to Jesus
Years ago I started something with my children that has now turned into a Christmas tradition. We write letters to Jesus. I started writing these letters out of a desire to give a gift to Jesus on Christmas. After all, it is HIS birthday. When my kids were too little to write, I wrote for…
Saturday Morning Review: Trophy Wives Club by Kristin Billerbeck
Let me state up front I love Kristin Billerbeck’s books. I have yet to be disappointed by one of her books. Instead, I am often challenged as I laugh my way through the pages. The Trophy Wives Club is a great addition to her list of books, yet filled with twists. As the title suggests,…
Quick Fiction Fixes – Utilize character point of view to show emotion
We’re all busy, whether working full-time or chasing/chauffeuring kids around all day. Yet we’re also writers, striving to get our words on paper and then polish it to a sparkle. This column gives quick fixes for fiction manuscripts specifically for busy writers. Pick and choose what works best for you! Utilize Point of View: Each…
Too Busy to Play
It seems that I’ve been so busy doing…(field trips, shopping, baking, blogging, laundry, cooking) that there hasn’t been much time to enjoy my family. There’s always something that needs to be done and being the choleric that I am, I usually make time to do it. Some of the things I do are really good.…