With one week left before the deadline to enter the Colorado Gold Literary Awards, we are receiving more entries every day. I’m not here to discuss procrastination (plenty of other posts have already been written about that) but rather what a writer might be doing in those final days before a deadline, be it for…
Category: Writing strategies
Writing to Survive
Back in October, I wasn’t sure I’d get to write these words: on January 13, I graduated with my MFA in Creative Writing. I started the program at Regis as one kind of person and ended it someone different. Not simply in the sense that I learned and grew as a writer, though I hope…
My Experience with a Reedsy Live Editing Session (with Tom Bromley)
First, I’d like to wish, wherever you are Edgar Allen Poe, a happy birthday. January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849. A free one-hour editing advice given by author, Tom Bromley via Reedsy, (Reedsy https://reedsy.com), was worth every cent—and more. Tom–author, editor, ghostwriter, creative writing tutor, Reedsy’s Head of Learning, and creator of the 101-day…
Starting a ‘Writing Habit’ Isn’t Easy
I’ve reached the point of desperation in my efforts to start and maintain a writing schedule. With the new year, I had hoped to begin writing for a few hours during the early morning, like 8:00 am to 10:30 am, before telemarketers, postmen, emails, and neighbors filled my day. In December, I told myself I…
The Plot Thickens (Part 1)
Maybe. Maybe it’s boring. Getting an idea for a story is the straightforward part. Developing that idea into a satisfying plot that keeps the reader turning the pages is where the challenge of novel writing begins. Above at: https://writingcooperative.com/a-beginners-guide-to-structuring-your-novel-don-t-use-a-plot-template-58b4b1ddf848 Most stories “fit” into one of seven plots. (That said, this morning, let’s focus on 6…