“You have to be on time,” I say. “If you’re the worker who’s always punctual, no one wants to fire you. It shows you care about being professional and not imposing on your co-workers.”
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All articles filed in Writing
Six Tips to Revise Your Writing
These six items may seem like little steps toward revision, but sweating the small stuff now can make your major revisions easier.
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In Proper Proportion
HL Carpenter takes over my blog today and provides good advice for writers. So there we were, with a packet of strawberries threatening to go soft and the need for a recipe to make good use of them. None of the sauce recipes we found called for as many berries as we had. And then…
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Finish Writing Your Book
It’s human nature for us to concentrate on the future. What happens when we finish writing our book? How do we get it out into the world?
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Traveler’s Zone Book Tour
Chris Pavesic continues the amazing story of Cami Malifux with Book 2 of the Revelation Chronicles.
Escape from a world of darkness into a magical realm of limitless adventure.
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Emma Lane’s Dual Personality
I confess I am a Gemini. That means I do not apologize for having two personalities, two serious interests and two distinct pen names. As Emma Lane (Historicals) or Janis Lane (Cozy Mysteries) I spin tales at my computer happily imagining characters and plots
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Choosing an Audio Book Narrator
What’s an author to do? When I think of voices, of style of speech, I think of characters. Joan Hickson (from the Miss Marple series) sounds completely different than Brian Glover (from the Campion mysteries). Do I want someone who sounds like Benedict Cumberbatch, Sean Bean, or Gary Oldman. (And since Gary Oldman uses a different accent in every movie, which version would that be?)
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Time Management
Effective time management reduces stress, alleviates anxiety, and increases efficiency and productivity. It also enables us to enjoy our lives in full measure.
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Using Visual Models for Effective WorldBuilding
The first season of The Frankenstein Chronicles hits the mark for a work that is not steampunk and has a lot to offer those who want to learn about effective worldbuilding.
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Interview with Elliott Baker
Today I have something different to present. Fellow author Elliott Baker is in the hot seat discussing his three novels with Ellen from ItsWriteNow.com. Enjoy! The year is 1671. René Gilbert’s destiny glints from the blade of a slashing rapier. The only way he can protect those he loves is to regain the power and…
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Write What You Know with Sara Daniel
Sara Daniel Finds her Niche Write what you know, they say. But what happens when you’re a romance author and congenital heart defects and their repair surgeries are what you know? You end up accidentally creating your own heart surgery romance niche. To be clear, the books I’ve written that involved heart surgery aren’t a…
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Changes
Hi all– If you have been a long-time reader of my blog, you will have noticed a few changes in the format. This will soon be accompanied by some changes in my posting schedule. For the last year I have been posting 5 days a week. Posts about writing, reading, cooking, gaming, health and beauty,…
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World Building: What’s on the Menu?
Food plays a principal role in the world-building of fiction realms and that some of the most famous and successful speculative fiction authors like Douglas Adams, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Suzanne Collins devote a extraordinary amount of narrative time to the central questions of how, why, and where their characters eat.
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4 Tips to Start Your Writing Day
Sometimes getting started is the hardest part of writing. Here are a few tips that may make it easier for you to achieve your writing goals. 1. Start the writing day with a treat. When I sit down to write, I try to have a full cup of coffee, tea, or sparkling water ready to…
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Writing & Perseverance
The following is a post from the summer of 2013 on the perseverance needed when reaching for any goal. I hope that you enjoy! I took a picture of these lilies today. They are planted in a row along the side of my house and I think they are beautiful. They did not really bloom…
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The Importance of Voice in Fiction Writing by Rita Monette
Rita Monette joins my blog today with some writing advice and an exciting new release. Take it away Rita! You may have heard the term voice in writing. However, there are two types of voice in writing fiction. One is the voice of the author: How you write and express yourself, tell their stories. That…
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The Power of Hope by Dianna Gunn
The Power of Stories of Hope The world today is awash in grimdark fantasy and dystopian science fiction, and we’re sure to see an even bigger surge in both genres now that we’ve entered the era of Trump and Brexit. I personally know half a dozen authors who have been inspired to write new dystopian…
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Spotlight on Building Your Author Platform
About the Series: Titles: Building Your Author Platform, How To Write A Business Plan For Writers and The Author’s Guide To Book Blog Tours Tired of hearing that you must start building your author platform straight away but having no idea how to get started? Becoming an author in today’s world has never been easier…
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Why I Write YA
A few months ago a friend and fellow author, Dianna Gunn, posted an article focused on the reasons why she writes YA fiction. Since my novel, Starter Zone, falls into this genre, she suggested that it might be a good topic for me as well. I like these types of articles because it gives readers…
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National Coffee Day!
If you enjoy an occasional cup of coffee (or if you are basically more coffee than human being at this point), this is the day to celebrate! Friday, September 29, 2017 is National Coffee Day. Enjoy a cup or two of your favorite coffee. Use #NationalCoffeeDay to post on social media. There are several restaurants and coffee…
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Liebster Award
The Liebster Award is a blogging award where blog writers can nominate other blogs they believe should get some extra recognition. The writer then has the opportunity to add some background information about themselves by answering the questions their nominator listed and also pay it forward by nominating their own choices. Every writer makes up their own questions, so each nomination is an opportunity to share more about yourself.
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Quick & Easy S’mores Treats
This kid-friendly recipe is quick and easy to make. It’s a little bit like a s’more, a little bit like a bird’s nest, and 100% yummy. Get those marshmallows and chocolate chips ready!
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A Writing Catalyst by Elliott Baker
Elliott Baker visits my blog today with some good writing advice. Take it away Elliott! In 2007 I began to write a story that had been in my head for years. A friend turned me on to NANOWRIMO a magical concept and creativity catalyst that I’ll write about in a later blog. In 2008, I…
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Quick & Easy Blueberry Muffins
When writing it is nice to have some quick & easy recipes to make for my family. Because of the fresh, local fruit and yogurt these muffins are healthier than most and go terrific with a cup of hot coffee.
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A Steampunk Writer’s Resource: The Victorian City
The Victorian City delves into the history of the era and provides a good base for any writer interested in creating a steampunk novel with Victorian undertones. I recommend it as a great place to start your research.
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Vonnie Hughes: A Dangerous Homecoming Interview
Vonnie Hughes is here with her sassy heroine. The blog is all yours, Vonnie!
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Manti by Eris Field
There are different recipes for manti from all over the caucuses and Middle East, but it is hard to gather a roomful of knowledgeable women to make manti and so I am offering a short-cut and hope they will forgive me.
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It’s All Greek by Sharon Ledwith
One thing we can all understand is food! It’s universal and we all need food to survive. So I thought I’d share this awesome recipe my hubby made for me recently. It’s called Greek Shepherd’s Pie, and trust me, your taste buds don’t need a translator for this dish! Opa!
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Summertime Writing Essentials
Warm weather and bright sunlight are especially tempting this time of year. Their siren call leads me away from my computer and into my backyard garden. I have yet to find a good way to write on my Macbook or iPad outside in the sunlight. So to keep myself indoors and locked to the screen for enough time to be productive, I make my writing area as comfortable as possible and pack it with a few essentials to keep my motivation level high.
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A Baking Sub-Plot with H.L. Carpenter
To stop you from eating this delicious dessert in one sitting, we invite you to enjoy an excerpt from our cozy mystery, A Cause for Murder.
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Spotlight on Tiffany Shand
After being kidnapped as a child, Christy Daine was sent away from her shifter clan to live among humans. For over a decade she has lived in fear of the people who tried to kill her. Living with her bodyguard, Ronan, the two embark on a secret relationship that could get them both killed.
When her father, the alpha of all the clans demands she return home to marry a man he’s chosen for her, Christy will finally have to face her past and her true nature. Danger lurks around every corner and even Ronan might not be the man she thought he was.
As the alpha’s daughter, can she really choose between the man she loves and the man she is supposed to be with? And who can she really trust?
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Empathy
I remind myself of this whenever people don’t act the way I think they should. In the irritation of the moment, it is easy to forget that there is more to every situation than I might at first know. It goes along with my favorite quote from J.M. Barrie: “Always try to be a little kinder than is necessary.”
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Positive Writing Support
Why is this type of support important? Because novel writing is very much a solitary event: It is just the author and his/her writing implement of choice desperately trying to get the words in his/her head out there for the world to read. This leads to a lot of isolation on the part of writers, so having a month (or two) during the year when you can spend time writing, being cheered on by other writers, and encouraging them in turn is priceless.
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5 Minutes with Andrew Leon Hudson
5 Minutes with Andrew Leon Hudson This is a chance to learn a bit more about Andrew Leon Hudson, whose new Weird Western ebook series End Trails has only just begun… What I love most about writing . . . …is relatively rare for me, but occasionally I’ll get totally absorbed to the extent that…
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Formatting Advice from Marci Clark
As an editor/designer, I see manuscripts come at me with all kinds of crazy, wonky, how-the-hell-did-you-do-that formatting. Be kind to your editor/designer, peeps. Clean up your mess a little before submitting it.
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Chocolate Chip Chocolate Cookies
For the ones you love on Valentine’s Day
This is a new family favorite. I made these in place of my traditional Christmas Cookies this year, and have requests to make them for all upcoming holidays. For New Years I made an extra batch to store in the freezer for any time an unexpected guest visits, and they lasted about a day.
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Writing Advice with Carol Browne
In my working life I wear many hats. Those worn by the writer and the proofreader you would assume to be created by the same milliner, but they are mutually exclusive. This is one of many reasons why we all need proofreaders.
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Pseudonyms: What’s in a Name? by Marci Clark
One question I am asked quite frequently is why I use various names instead of just sticking with one. I think my reasoning reflects that of many authors so I thought I’d share.
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Always Be Yourself Unless You Can Be a Pirate . . .
. . Then always be a pirate.
To celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day, HL Carpenter takes over my blog to discuss their latest YA book–Pirate Summer.
You Can’t Buy Happiness, but You Can Buy Cake . . . by Emma Lane
. . and that’s kind of the same thing. Company coming for a cook out? You want to be a part of the party so what’s for dessert? This “whip it together” is perfect for nights when you just got home and company is due in the door shortly. Fast cooking is my very favorite way to prepare a meal. I always want to be in on the fun and not in the kitchen.
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