I’m sure I’m not the only writer who’s heart skips a beat when they find a new blank journal just calling me to fill it out with stories and ideas. I personally buy a notebook for 2 reasons: But how many of us bite off more than we can chew and either get writer’s block,Continue reading “33 Journaling Ideas for Notebook Hoarders (Like Me!)”
Tag Archives: writing
Getting the Most out of Creative Writing Conferences
Last year I attended 3 writing conferences—LDSPMA, Storymakers, and ANWA—and have to say that they were very beneficial for an aspiring writer like myself. As you plan out your 2025, I recommend checking out registration times/dates for possible writing conferences you may want to attend in-person or virtually as you work on your next writingContinue reading “Getting the Most out of Creative Writing Conferences”
Book Review: The Gilded Page: The Secret Lives of Medieval Manuscripts by Mary Wellesley
“…You must always keep searching, because you might find something magical, beneath some mouse-eaten cover, while looking for something quite different altogether.” Page 54 Summary In this deep-dive into the nature and study of medieval manuscripts, and especially many lesser known ones, Wellesley brings to light how recent research of these texts influenced the literaryContinue reading “Book Review: The Gilded Page: The Secret Lives of Medieval Manuscripts by Mary Wellesley”
12 Ways to Promote Your Book as an Indie Author
“Whether you’re an indie or hybrid author, the marketing of your book comes down primarily to you, and this sometimes can be quite a pain. However, here are some tips to make it a little easier!”
Book Review: Writing Picture Books Revised and Expanded Edition: A Hands-On Guide from Story Creation to Publication by Ann Whitford Paul
This was another required text for my grad certificate class “Writing Children’s Picture Books” and I learned a lot more than I expected from it regarding the picture book drafting process, such as the inclusion of figures of speech, format, book dummying, dialogue, and POV. Summary Paul takes her readers through the writing process pertainingContinue reading “Book Review: Writing Picture Books Revised and Expanded Edition: A Hands-On Guide from Story Creation to Publication by Ann Whitford Paul”
Book Review: On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
I recently finished this book as a required text for a class I am enrolled in for my Creative writing Certificate, “The Art and Craft of Creative Writing”. I can say that while there are a lot of nuggets of wisdom for the aspiring writer, along with some entertaining anecdotes and scenes from Stephen King’sContinue reading “Book Review: On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King”
5 Strategies for Building Strong YA Main Character Arcs
Don’t pamper your characters. Show their pain, their fears, their humanness. Your characters are like your children; raise them as such. PLEASE don’t give them the “I’m not like other people” trope! Here are some ideas to apply to your character so you can avoid it: Hopefully this list will help you flesh out yourContinue reading “5 Strategies for Building Strong YA Main Character Arcs”
Announcement: New Short Story “The Governess and the Graveyard” Published
Greetings! Just a word that my new short story titled “The Governess and the Graveyard” was published today online at White Cat Publications. If you are a fan of suspenseful stories, historical fiction, or supernatural thrillers (especially written in an epistolary way), check it out here!
5 Things to Avoid When Writing Teen Fiction
It’s unbelievable how often I encounter books written for teenagers where the author misses the mark about how a teen thinks or just rides off of teen clichés when crafting their stories. Don’t get me wrong, there is some good teen fiction out there, they just are hard to find, given how poorly many ofContinue reading “5 Things to Avoid When Writing Teen Fiction”
5 Tips to Get You through Your Manuscript’s 1st Draft
DO NOT edit as you go. This is perhaps the most time-consuming writing-preventer I’ve encountered when trying to write a manuscript. Rereading what you have written and making changes instead of writing the next part can be quite a hinderance to the progression of your story or novel, so please try to avoid editing untilContinue reading “5 Tips to Get You through Your Manuscript’s 1st Draft”
