How many times have you read a description of a leading character that pretty much starts and stops with their physical beauty? I’ve got news...character is more than eye color. Sure, if you’re a romance writer it’s important to give readers a bit of brain candy. Who doesn’t like to read about rippling muscles and the arms that reach out to hold his love? Read More
What Do You Want to Be?
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” It’s a common question asked to children. I think it’s something we should ask ourselves from time to time. Creative people often have second careers. Why? Because we just can’t help ourselves from letting the creative juices flow. And, if you can make a living from it, all the better. But what if you’re not Read More
Get Out of the Writing Rut
We do so many things habitually. If your daily habit is going for a brisk walk or some other form of exercise, that’s a positive. But, if your daily writing has gotten stale and yet you still go about it in the same manner, that’s not so good. Here are a few writing prompts for how to get out of the writing rut. Try Something Different. Perhaps Read More
Editor vs Beta Reader
Editor vs Beta Reader...which one is better? For indie authors on a budget, it’s an important question. No doubt, a beta reader can save you money that you would spend on an editor, but a savvy writer knows that there’s a big difference between the two and your role in monitoring each one. If you are relying on beta readers to review your books prior to Read More
Why Competition is Good for You
You just heard that a fellow author has hit the big time...best-seller list, agents crawling out of the woodwork, talk of a movie deal. How do you feel? Jealous? Maybe a bit of naysaying about the actual worthiness of the book? Stop. I’m going to explain why competition is good for you. It’s as simple as that old adage, “Variety is the spice of life.” Read More
Need a Little Drama?
Need a little drama in your life? Whether you write romance or chick-lit, thrillers or horrors, you need drama. And what is drama without a healthy dose of suspense? If you're writing a romance, that suspense may come in the form of 'will they or won't they' ever get together? For a horror, it probably means will the killer attack his next victim and then Read More
Amp Up the Fun on Your Writing
If you aren't having fun writing it, they won't have fun reading it. Easier said than done? Check out these three quick writing prompts and amp up the fun on your writing. Find Your Happy It’s Evatopia’s catch phrase and I hope you Live it. Breathe it. And most importantly, Believe that you deserve it. When it comes to writing, it needs to be enjoyable Read More
Make This the Best Week Ever
Make this the best week ever. What a great concept! And even better, thanks to the wise words of HelloGiggles.com, you'll find that this seemingly lofty task is actually in the bag. Founded by Zooey Deschanel, Molly McAleer and Sophia Rossi, HelloGiggles.com is a positive online community for women (although men are always welcome!) covering DIY and Read More
What Makes You Happy?
What makes you happy? Is it something simple like when someone else makes dinner? Is it a reciprocated act when you share a laugh with a friend? Or, is happiness out of your grasp? While working with writers over the years, I've learned that they often start sentences, "I'll be happy when..." The end of those sentences is enough to make even the most Read More
#WordlessWednesday
I love this picture of an old Underwood typewriter. It's the perfect #WordlessWednesday post because it says so much all by itself. What's one image that describes you as a writer? Read More