No matter how dedicated, disciplined, or in love with our stories we may be, there comes a point when we drift away from our daily habit of writing. How do we make ourselves return? And what is it about stepping off our writerly path that makes it so hard to step back on? About six…
It’s a decision many authors struggle with, and it’s a perennial question at writing conferences: How do you decide whether to use past tense or present tense in your fiction? The answer is, of course: Use whatever feels right for you and your story. Even though that’s the correct answer, it’s a tad vague and…
A writer pal told me she wasn’t coming to Colorado Gold because RMFW members were too divided among traditional and independent writers. Too much friction. She didn’t feel welcome any longer. Maybe I’m as clueless and naïve as a newborn, but I just don’t get it. I don’t feel it. I don’t sense it, either….
If Rachel didn’t win the writing contest this year, she might have to kill someone other than the darlings in her manuscript. Please excuse the hyperbole; I only use it here to demonstrate a point about openers. The first lines of a story are not the place to hem and haw. In today’s world, with…
Ever find yourself wondering why you’re writing a particular story? Out of all the myriad tales out there, why do certain themes seem to pop up in your fiction more often than others? Why, when you analyze the themes you gravitate to, do they bear a startling similarity? Maybe you find yourself writing about the…