Summer is here, which means it’s conference season! It’s that time of year when a lot of writer’s organizations have their conferences and big events. Conferences are among my favorite things ever! I love hanging out with fellow writers and spending some dedicated time thinking about nothing but the craft and business or writing. At… Read more »
The use of generative AI in writing is a topic that comes up a lot in DIY MFA courses and programs. Let’s face it, this is probably the biggest technological revolution we’ve had in the writing space since movable type. As I’ve shared in the past, I am “AI-cautious.” I don’t like how many LLMs… Read more »
If you’re like me—and many writers—you might sometimes feel like you’re writing in a vacuum. Sure, we might love to envision ourselves huddled away in a cabin in the woods penning the next big bestseller, but the reality is that we need to connect with a greater writing community if we want to build a… Read more »
I was at a writing conference this past March (the Women in Publishing Summit, which was amazing!) and during one of the networking sessions one of the other writers mentioned they were writing a knitting cozy mystery. As an avid knitter myself, I immediately asked, “Do you knit?” From there, immediately my fellow writer/knitter and… Read more »
Once upon a time, a workshop was considered a place where you did the work. Think of a carpenter’s workshop, with sawdust covering the tables and coils or scraps of wood littering the floors. Or consider Santa’s workshop, where elves engage in the cheery job of making toys for all the good little children of… Read more »
Bouchercon is the annual world mystery convention, this year held in San Diego, California. Every conceivable form of mystery, suspense, and thriller novel, from teddy bear cozies to hard-boiled, and noir can be found here. This year’s convention brought together approximately seventeen hundred people for four and a half days of fun and crime at… Read more »
Bouchercon is the annual World Mystery Convention held in honor of Anthony Boucher, a writer and editor of mysteries. This convention moves to a different city every year. This year in San Diego, seventeen hundred people attended. In the next few years, Bouchercon will go to Nashville, New Orleans, and Calgary before coming back to… Read more »
Outside of social media, would you walk up to people you don’t know while grocery shopping and say, “I love your shirt.” Here’s what I ate for breakfast.” I traveled to Paris too!” “I’m reading this book now. What are you reading?” You wouldn’t. And yet that is what you essentially do on social media…. Read more »
As writers, we are encouraged to go to conferences. To get the lay of the genre and the industry. To fangirl/boy with our favorite authors. To network and to take workshops. To meet and pitch to agents. In short, to find our community. I cannot think of a better one for the new or emerging… Read more »
Writing is a powerful tool that allows individuals to express their thoughts, emotions, and experiences. For LGBTQ+ writers, the act of writing can be even more transformative, as it provides a platform to share their unique perspectives, challenge societal norms, and foster understanding and acceptance. Today, I want to explore the invaluable benefits of writing… Read more »
