When I decided to write a fictional account of a time in my own life, I thought, how hard could that be? Surely the objective to write a novel about yourself would not be any seat-of-the-pants endeavor, not with an outline already intact. I lived the story, experienced the inciting incident, faced the point of no return, and after jumping hurdle after hurdle (or more like crawling over them), I … [Read more...] about How to Write a Novel about Your Life
Writing Inspiration
Best Gifts for Writers
This happens every year. The holidays creep up on me until I wake up on Black Friday in a tryptophan-laden haze and realize I've got less than a month to buy Christmas gifts for everyone on my list. Ho-Ho-Ho. 🎄😳 I can't help you with your entire holiday list, but since I'm a writer, I thought I'd compile a list of some of the best gifts for writers out there this year. Journals are nice and … [Read more...] about Best Gifts for Writers
Goat Yoga Can Make You a Better Writer
A picturesque little farm. Soft hay beneath our feet. Yoga mats under our arms--and goats. For reals. My daughters and I recently took part in a farm-style yoga sesh. And along the way I learned a few things. Here's how goat yoga can make you a better writer: Goats are curious. Curiosity is good for your characters and story plots Goats don’t care that you’re in the middle of some serious core … [Read more...] about Goat Yoga Can Make You a Better Writer
4 Ways to Beat Writer’s Block
You're stuck. Uninspired. You have a deadline. Or perhaps a goal. But the longer you sit in your chair, the slower the words flow. Problem: You need to beat writer's block. Question: What are you going to do about it? Here are 4 Ways to Beat Writer's Block: 1. Get Outside After taking a walk on a sunny afternoon, I sat in a fat Adirondack chair overlooking Moonstone Beach and outlined a … [Read more...] about 4 Ways to Beat Writer’s Block
Writers: Find Your Tribe … and Thrive
Guest post by author Randileigh Kennedy, who talks about writing in a creepy cabin in the woods & offers advice for the isolated writer. Read on: Sage Advice for the Isolated Writer There are a lot of things I love about being an author – the creative freedom, the sense of accomplishment when I finish a project, the extra income …. Hands down my favorite thing, however, is connecting … [Read more...] about Writers: Find Your Tribe … and Thrive
How to Give an Old Story New Life
Updated post as of 11/11/18! Read how one old story was given new life - three times! I wanted to give you an example of a rejected project that nagged at me until I finally sat down and rewrote it in Scrivener, converted it to an ePub, then released it as a novella out into the world. This is how I gave an old story new life. The Christmas Thief, a cozy mystery, started off years ago as a … [Read more...] about How to Give an Old Story New Life