“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
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…
“Let’s cut through the Lair.” “The graveyard? Josh. No way.” “Come on, Mindy. You don’t believe that crap do you?” “Only fools tempt fate.” “I’ve done it a hundred times.” “At night,” she put her hands on her hips and waited for a reply. He looked at her but didn’t answer. “We’re taking the long…
Happy summer!! It’s the longest day of the year. Summer means beaches and barbeques and vacations and staycations. And books. Lots of books. At least for me anyway. There’s nothing like relaxing with a good book. If you missed yesterday’s post, I talked about how I found my writing voice. I also talked about a…
Find your voice. That is probably the most common piece of advice every writer is given. To me, voice is defined by genre. The writers we love fall into specific genres, (unless they’re just unusually talented and can write across multiple platforms). I have finally found mine. Here’s how I did it. A Major Discovery…
Bella had never seen her brother Billy so inconsolable. She kept holding his hand and rubbing his shoulder and never left his side at the funeral. She watched his face as they lowered his best friend into the ground. She couldn’t remember a time in her life when Billy and Ricky weren’t together. They were…