Straight talk from the sisters about blood, sweat and ink
Recently, I’ve reflected on the vast geographical distances between me and my friends and family, due somewhat to the fact that my son is getting married this summer. Our invited guests stretch across the country and even outside. As the eldest member of Writeonsisters, I lived in a time when my neighborhood was all I …
Continue reading “K is for Kindred Spirits: My Writer Pals”
With Passover and Easter coming up, this seems like a good time to share some Jewish secrets. I love food because it heals everyone–people, dogs, iguanas, plants. A piece of dark chocolate nibbled while sipping a dessert wine; spaghetti slurped and splattering sauce; roasted sweet potatoes served with crisp, tender chicken; food can transform a …
Continue reading “Jewish Secrets From A Yiddishe Mama”
As a self-taught writer, I’ve stumbled around plenty in my journey to elevate my writing skills past college-level English class. I’ve joined writing groups and subjected myself to ruthless critique, attended a writing workshop weekend in the back hills of Virginia, and confess to relying heavily on the Internet. Along the pathway, I discovered an …
Continue reading “I is for Improvement: THE BOOKSHELF MUSE”
We hear it all the time: There are no new stories! Nowhere is this sentiment more potentially accurate than with historical fiction. But is it really true? Or is this a case of needing more out-of-the box thinking? Here are three ways to re-imagine the research. Take one tip or use all three and leave …
Continue reading “Historical Fiction: 3 Tips for Leaving the Slush Pile Behind”
Don’t panic. This (infuriating) title is just an adaptation of lyrics from a song I can’t get out of my head. In case you’re puzzled, Rex Harrison posed a similar question in My Fair Lady, ridiculous as it seems, because given the choice between him and Audrey Hepburn, would any of us really choose to …
Continue reading “Gender Questions: Why Can’t A Woman Write More Like A Man?”
(Yes, I scored the letter “F” in the A to Z Blog Challenge!) At a writing conference the topic of swearing in YA lit came up. I was surprised some writers vehemently believed you couldn’t put the F-word in a YA novel. They claimed no agent or editor would publish it with that word (or …
Continue reading “Dropping the F-Bomb in YA Lit”
When I was little, I was often criticized for being too sensitive. I didn’t just cry in sad movies, I sobbed, and sometimes carried harrowing images of war, cruelty or injustice around with me for days. I rescued ants and relocated snails from places where they might be squished to hidden areas where they could …
Continue reading “Empathy”
Dreams can be terrifying: a dragon chases you over a steep mountain, your teeth fall out, a loved one is knifed in a dark alleyway! You wake up sweating, screaming, flailing, much to your partner’s dismay and perhaps to find him defending himself against your violent onslaught. Dreams can be happy: you win the lottery, …
Continue reading “Friday Inspiration: D is for Dreams as Inspiration”
One of the freshest, most invigorating experiences I’ve had as a fledgling writer is being challenged with a writing prompt. The technique actually comes from the marketing world, where people spin an idea and see what they come up with. Mostly used by creative writing instructors, you’re given a sentence and you have free reign …
Continue reading “Creative Writing Prompts: What if…?”
Day two of the blogging A – Z Challenge. I’m excited about the letter B because it gives me a chance to blog on something I’m passionate about: boy readers. People will tell you this small human is more elusive than unicorn and twice as ornery about reading, but as the mom of two tween …
Continue reading “Books and Boys”