I know I’m in trouble when I’m taking my work too seriously when I can’t find something to be amused by. I have written about some really unfunny things—addiction, cancer, death. My latest novel, An Upside-Down Sky, is set in Namyan, a Buddhist country modeled after Burma, which is a kissing cousin of North Korea… Read more »
The most important pages you need to prepare before you query a literary agent, besides the query letter, are the first pages of your book. But how do you start a book? Or, how do you know when the first chapter you’ve written will hook your reader? Sometimes in an attempt to seduce a literary… Read more »
People write memoirs for many different reasons—as a way to process trauma, find healing, or even take revenge on family members who may not have been as nice as they could have been. I didn’t start writing a memoir for any of those reasons. I began writing down my stories because I felt compelled to… Read more »
What makes a great love story? Whether you’re writing romance, mystery, or literary fiction, when you’re incorporating romance into our work, the task is the same—to write a believable, engaging relationship that keeps readers turning the pages. (I write contemporary fiction, for example, but I write contemporary fiction that sometimes has romance in it, and… Read more »
As a reader and writer of fantasy, I love world building. But it’s one of those things that is easy to get lost in, both as a writer creating it and as a reader consuming it. So, before we get started, please remember that this is supposed to be fun! As always whenever I offer… Read more »
Today’s post will teach you about writing combat scenes, but first, join me on a quick trip down memory lane… Have you ever experienced something that you knew, in the moment, would change your life? Maybe when you first found your passion, or when you first tasted your favorite meal, maybe you heard a song… Read more »
Dedication to your writing is important, but at times it can go too far. I’ve often found myself so absorbed in my work that I ignored my own basic needs. Which, if kept up, not only jeopardizes my health and sanity but can also negatively affect my writing. To avoid burning myself out I have… Read more »
I didn’t start writing because I wanted to make a bestseller list or sell a million copies. I started writing because it was fun. It brought joy. As a child, I delighted in telling myself stories. I loved imagining secret worlds no one else could see. I got a kick out of creating plot twists… Read more »
I’m a huge fan of breaking things apart and taking them back to the basics because the basics provide the building blocks that allow you to go forward. Learn and master the basics and you can start to riff, creating your own spin and style. This goal of achieving creative freedom is why I want… Read more »
There are a lot of questions I see come up over and over again when it comes to self-editing. Perhaps the most difficult of these to answer—how do I know when I can stop editing? Here’s why we get trapped when it comes to this question. There’s no such thing as a perfect book. No… Read more »
