A rant about being unquestionably stuck — I have a few characters I hate to write. I know, this is like a mother admitting she has favorite children. It’s true, however. I have characters who’s dialog flows from my brain in a never ending string of snarky comments, long monologue, and angry rants. For the others, I…

Ending my pause after almost a year. — When I announced we were picking up our lives and moving to Maine, I don’t think I had any idea what I was in for. We spent almost three months living in my aunt and uncle’s basement — a very nice basement, to be sure. During that time, I began…

The first book is ready to be sent to a professional editor who will, no doubt, find plenty to say. I am excited this step is so close. It… — The first book is ready to be sent to a professional editor who will, no doubt, find plenty to say. I am excited this step is so close. It feels like the light at the end of a very long tunnel. However, there is some other news that has disrupted…

An author’s musing about what to cut and what to keep. — I was asked the other day if I’ve been having a difficult time cutting things out of my book. I had to think about that for a moment. Some things are easy to see. For example, I probably don’t need to tell you about the grain of the wood on…

Using every experience to your imaginative advantage — I have found that as a writer, staying in one place is absolutely the worst thing I can do. Taking myself out of my comfort zone and experiencing the world has been the biggest source of inspiration. I know sometimes this is hard, especially now. This spring I had a…

During the in between times and any spare moment, even driving alone in the car … I write. I write even when there is no computer in front… — During the in between times and any spare moment, even driving alone in the car … I write. I write even when there is no computer in front of me or pen in my hand. Constantly, there is a narrative going through my head. …