Straight talk from the sisters about blood, sweat and ink
This time of year, as we wrap gifts and consider which New Year’s Eve party to attend, it’s inevitable that we look back on 2013 before it slips away. Happily, 2013 saw the birth of Write On Sisters. As individuals, each of the Sisters has had challenges and triumphs that left us reeling or dancing a …
Continue reading “A Holiday Wish For Writers”
As a former teacher of biology and chemistry, I’m reasonably learned in the sciences and had been a teacher for several years when one day my Assistant Superintendent paid me a visit. “Wayne’s taking a leave next year and I’m assigning the AP Bio course to you,” he announced. “Sure,” I said, “be glad to…” …
Continue reading “Surviving the Biology of Negative Feedback”
Every family has some honored traditions at this time of year, and for many, pulling out dusty copies of a favorite holiday film numbers among them. In my house, we watch that movie snuggled up under blankets, with big bowls of popcorn and mugs of frothy hot chocolate. My kids will likely choose It’s a …
Continue reading “It IS a Wonderful Life!”
In the life of any book, there comes a time when the writer has to step back from the creative process and move into editing mode. Once that first draft is down, whether written in spurts or a steady stream, the task of critical evaluation and tweaking begins. We go over our work multiple times …
Continue reading “An Editor’s Perspective on Killing Our Darlings”
I read a lot. And since I’m a writer, reading isn’t just entertainment, it’s instructional. I learn from every book, whether good, bad or middling. Because of this, I’ve decided to start a blog series called “Reading For Writers 101” about all the writerly things one can learn from reading books. Today’s lesson: Book Jackets …
Continue reading “Reading For Writers 101: What Book Jackets Teach About A Story’s “Hook””
My last post explained how I became an author. I had the inspiration, the enthusiasm, the passion to write; imagination and story-telling my forte. I’m reasonably well-educated so I figured I didn’t have far to go to master the finite skills to get published, right? Well, no. One of my first lessons came from my …
Continue reading “The School of Hard Knocks: Learning the Craft”
The other day I started thinking about my writing. Questioning the books I admire, and the writers who have influenced me. As with most writers, the experiences that shaped me came from many different people and places, including many of my old teachers. Oddly, some of my best mentors were not English or literature teachers …
Continue reading “What I Learned About Writing From Cookies: A True Story!”
Writing is hard work, but there’s lots to be said for what it offers: flexible hours, creative freedom, a vehicle for expression and communication. A book marks our spot in the world, reflecting our passage long after we’re gone, and even if only one person reads it, the act of leaving a tangible part of …
Continue reading “A Cruise Through the Emotional Valleys and Peaks of Writing”
‘Tis the holiday season, which means you will probably find yourself at lots of social functions making small talk. This will inevitably lead to someone asking what your book is about. And you’ll hesitate, wondering how to sum up the intricate plot, the fantastical world, and the character’s monumental journey in less than an hour, …
Continue reading “How to Write a Logline”
The old adage, ‘Writers are born, not made,’ is something I believed, well…until I didn’t. And I’m taking this statement literally as in that newborn baby snuggled in an isolate could write something amazing if he could get to a laptop. I’m sure there are people who are born to write, but I think it’s …
Continue reading “Writers are made, not born. Girl on Fire!”