No, not really. I’m not going anywhere. Yes, I’m stepping away from the blog and I’m also handing off the baton on hosting the podcast. After 416 episodes, it was simply time to give the podcast a fresh energy and a fresh voice. The new podcast host is Farrah Frances and she’s fantastic. Watch for…
Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about blocks. Not the LEGO blocks, city blocks, television news blocks, concrete blocks, etc. Those “blocks” never affected me much until it came to writing. This particular block was puzzling. The frustration over how to move forward with my latest writing endeavor had me tied in knots. The lack…
Never say never when it comes to writing a book. “I’ll never be a plotter.” “I’d never kill off my protagonist.” “I could never write a series—I’d get too bored with my characters.” As the oft-heard comment goes, each book you write teaches you how to write that book, not the next one. I was…
Your moment has arrived. After spending months drafting and revising a manuscript, getting feedback from your critique group, and sharing it with your first readers, you’re ready to take the next step. Maybe you’re thinking about pitching to agents or editors. Maybe you’re self-publishing and thinking about formatting and graphic design. Still, a question tickles…
My eight-year-old recently asked why so many Disney movies feature deceased or wicked mothers. After a moment to reflect, I answered, “Because if the main characters had positive role models and caregivers, they would get into a lot less trouble and then there wouldn’t be a story.” In Disney’s first full-length animated feature film, Snow…