“You don't start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it's good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. That's why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence.” ― Octavia E. Butler
Editing. That word strikes images of a white page with my ideas on it riddled with the cruel markings of a red pen. You may remember one of my previous posts where I shared the exciting news that one of my short stories is going to be published. What I didn’t share was the terror that…
Finding Mrs. White’s dead body wasn’t listed on the schedule of events for my writer’s retreat. Writing retreats are tough. I always get brutally honest feedback about my writing. It’s always constructive criticism…but…well, let’s just say Mrs. White has a talent for pushing people to the edge. It was the last day of our writing…
Yesterday, August 29th, was my birthday. I’m always thankful to make it to another birthday because tomorrow isn’t promised. This birthday was extra special. I got the best birthday gift ever, and it came in my Inbox. Can you guess what it is? You’ll figure it out but I will let the suspense build anyway….
Before you ask, that’s not me. But it is a perfect representation of what will be happening to me on August 27th. Let me explain. I was reading an article about why you should never give up on your writing. The article talked about the usual stuff: rejections, persistence, determination. Yada-yada (sorry, I was in…
Which do you do first: the book or the movie? I’m a firm believer in reading the book before the movie comes out. Watching the movie before reading the book is the ultimate of spoilers. Many times movies leave out a lot of details because of budget and time constraints. Details which make a huge difference. That being…
Rejection is brutal. It really, really hurts. But if you’re a writer, it’s par for the course. When you get those standard form rejection letters that don’t even hint at why your story wasn’t accepted, you begin to question whether you have what it takes. You ask yourself why you’re putting yourself through this torture. Who wants…
Writers have to read. A lot. It is the way we train. With 2018 half way over and my reading goal more than half way done, I have to say I’m pretty impressed with the books I’ve come across this year. I know book lovers are always looking for the next great read, so I’m…
I know. You’ve heard it a million times. If you want to be a good writer, you’ve got to read a lot. Stephen King even said that a writer who doesn’t have the time to read doesn’t have the tools to write. I’m a voracious reader. But my reading has taken on a whole new…
Imagine this scenario: you wake up (or get home from work) ready to get in that 1,000 words. You’ve got a great idea and don’t need any motivation. You sit down at your desk and move things around to make room to write. Then, poof, your idea is gone. Sound familiar? Your writing space might…
Are you tired of wasting time reading books about writing that don’t deliver on their promise to help you improve your skills? Me, too. In fact, I’ve read at least fifty books on the craft of writing. Some stunk. Some were mediocre. And some were game changers. I’ll share the ones that fell into the…