On Writing
Are You Out There?
Years ago in graduate school, I discovered the wonder of Dar Williams. All of her songs resonate with me on some level, but the lyrics from one song in particular have stayed in my head for years. That song? “Are You Out There?” In it, Dar questions if someone can hear her and mentions that…
Read MoreBringing Your Characters to Life!
A few weeks ago, a friend and I were talking about writing. “I love writing character sketches,” I said. “I’m not really sure why. Character-driven stories aren’t really my thing.” My friend’s eyes widened. “They’re not? Um, you totally write character-driven stories.” Until then, I had no idea. Truly. I mean, I knew I didn’t…
Read MoreCelebrating Women’s Fiction Day!
UPDATE! Sally S. and Jennifer S. are winners! I’ll contact them via email. Thanks for participating! Welcome to Women’s Fiction Day! In 2019, the Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA) established the day “to celebrate the authors, stories, readers, bookstores, and fans of the women’s fiction genre.” I’m a grateful member of WFWA, and I am…
Read MorePodcast Love
Several years ago now (I actually can’t remember when!), I met freelance journalist Carrie Vittitoe when a friend and I headed south to Kentucky to attend a writers conference. She was speaking about her experiences, and since then, we’ve kept up with each other on social media. Fast forward to 2019, and she and Amy…
Read MoreShameless Promotion II
If I don’t promote myself, who will? That’s the introductory line of my last post on promotion, and a lesson I’m still learning. Eventually I’ll have learned enough about promotion, marketing, branding, and everything else that I’ll be able to teach a course. Maybe someday . . . But today, I have a fun surprise…
Read MoreShameless Promotion
If I don’t promote myself, who will? That’s the lesson I’m learning. Hence, my decision to post this little plug for the Five Minute Reads event that will be broadcast next week on Facebook live. Date and time for the event? February 27, 8 p.m. EST. Come join me and three other authors as we…
Read MoreWith or Without You
My youngest, who is twelve, has always clung to words. She likes how coffin and soft sound, and she repeats words like creamy often. Her new favorite word: rude. As in, “That’s rude,” in response to someone’s off-color behavior. But it’s not the word that stands out, it’s how she says it. A bit of…
Read MoreLet’s Talk About THE BLURB
She thinks the hard part is over. She’s written the manuscript. She’s done the homework. She’s sent the queries, imploring someone—anyone?—to take her work on. She’s learned to handle rejection and the constant nagging that her email folder labeled Rejections is teetering on the brink of no storage. She’s chipped away at her self-confidence, and…
Read MoreFear
My nightmares usually involve something chaotic: fog that splinters into a million pieces, cylinders that appear at random intervals, imposing pine trees with branches that aim to mutilate, shots of color that seem to cover everything. I’m not sure where the dreams originate, and I don’t have them too often, but when I do, I…
Read MoreFinding That Groove Again
My parents live a half mile from me. This short distance was by design: when we moved them here, we chose the best, close nursing facility so that I’d be able to see them often. And in the days before COVID-19, I visited them every day. Now, I can only see my mom a few…
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