An Honor To Write

This is my grandson, Joshua. He is an avid reader. He especially loves series. Since he reads so voraciously, he has to wait (impatiently, I might add) for the next book in the series to come out. He’s sooo excited when the new book is ready for purchase. I hope someday a child will wait [...]

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Here is a picture of my critique group (I’m the one in the back with the scarf.) It is an awesome group of creative, knowledgeable, and very prolific writers and illustrators (actually, only one writer-illustrator in the bunch and all the rest of us are jealous that we aren’t as gifted ) We meet once [...]

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English, Homophones And Writing

I looked at the last post I sent. I noticed an error. How writers hate errors! Especially ones they see AFTER they have sent the manuscript to the editor or agent!! It is impossible to be errorless in our writing. I think the English language makes it more difficult. I had written the word peak [...]

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Chasing Rabbits In My Research

I’ve been doing research for a query I’m sending to an editor. I want to give them several series ideas. I’ve been doing research on each of my  ideas. I find it overwhelming! Inevitably, as I’m researching some particular person or thing, I’ll find other sites. Before I know it, I’ve spent a couple of hours “chasing [...]

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Take A Summer Break From Writing

Writing in the summer may be somewhat of a struggle for some. The heat, kids, vacations all intrude on the writing life. What to do? Lighten up. Enjoy your kids. Enjoy the vacation (however, be on the alert for story ideas). Don’t feel pressured to crank out a novel during the summer. Don’t stop writing but [...]

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Ignoring The Voices

Sometimes I have trouble keeping myself motivated to write when I receive rejections from editors or when agents send the obligatory, “Thanks but no thanks,” email. Thoughts such as, “Why bother? The chances of you getting published are pathetically small. There are so many more talented people than you out there.” On and on the negative messages go. [...]

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Saying Versus Doing

Okay, I know you’re bored stiff with this tool box thing so we’ll be moving on. You can fill the rest of your tool chest on your own. Have fun!  It’s easy to say you want to be a writer, another thing to actually be one. To be a writer you have to…well, how do I put this? [...]

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Writer’s Tool Box, Pt. 6

Okay, how many of the tools in your tool box have you already used this week? Remember, you can’t build anything unless you use the tools! The tool we’ll put in our tool box today is two pronged. It is organizations/subscriptions There are so many good organizations that can help you in your endeavor to become a [...]

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Writer’s Tool Box, Pt. 5

Wow! Looks like we’re going to need a BIG toolbox for all these writing tools. Big is better, especially in a writer’s tool box. Why? Because, if you don’t have the needed tools handy, it will take you much more time to construct a good manuscript. So,what’s today’s tool? Let’s add an internet tool. The internet has made [...]

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Writer’s Tool Box Pt. 4

Okay, we’re progressing here. Another tool has been added. Which tool shall we put in next? How about the reading tool? Just like a hammer is an essential in a regular tool box, a reading tool is essential in a writer’s tool box. Reading tool? What on earth is a reading tool? Reading is as important as writing. Let’s me [...]

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