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History in the Making
Hospitality in Writing

Have you ever read any books by Shel Silverstein? Since 1963, his poems and drawings have delighted countless children…
June 20, 2020
Devotional/Christian Living
The Bridge: How to Choose and Write the Bible Point in a Devotion

The Bible point is the bridge between the hook where you began your devotion and the application point at…
June 19, 2020
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Helpful Resources For Mystery/Suspense/thriller Writers

Technology today offers a wide selection of resources for writers in the form of YouTube instructional videos, simulcasts, zoom…
June 17, 2020
Mastering Middle Grade
The Benefits of Oatmeal Brain

I don’t know if this happens to you, but when stress piles up in my life, my body starts…
June 16, 2020
Fantasy-Sci-Fi
How to Write Tactful Fantasy and Science Fiction During COVID-19

Writing during a global pandemic is probably not something you thought you’d be tackling. Writing is hard enough by…
June 7, 2020
Screenwriting
Hooked?

I’m excited to say that I am almost finished with the first draft of my new screenplay. Getting the…
June 4, 2020
History in the Making
Why You Need to Get Your Historical Facts Straight

If you’re a historical fiction writer who is under quarantine or lockdown, whether voluntary or government mandated, now would…
May 31, 2020
Writing for YA
Writing Diverse Mental Health Themes in YA Fiction

If you’ve queried in the past five years, you’re familiar with the plea for diverse books. Publishers and readers…
May 27, 2020
Romancing Your Story
Location. Location. Location.

When I first visited upstate New York several years ago, I kept getting the feeling I’d been there before,…
May 23, 2020
History in the Making
Decoration Day: The Joy of Remembering Ancestors

Decoration Day! It looks like an entry in a day planner, and visions of Christmas, a birthday, or a…
May 20, 2020
Devotional/Christian Living
Gotcha! How to Write a Compelling Devotional Hook

A short form devotional has three sections: a hook, a Bible passage connection, and a connection to the life…
May 19, 2020
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Contests—Pretty or Prickly

Your opening scene has edge-of-your-seat tension, your characters are witty and full of life, the description of your setting…
May 17, 2020
Mastering Middle Grade
Real talk: When to submit your manuscript

Writing a book is the literary exercise equivalent of taking a cross-country road trip. No matter how beautiful the…
May 16, 2020
Magazine and Freelance
5 Tips to Make Your Editor Smile

It’s confession time. I’ve been a magazine editor for nine years. During those years I’ve worked with more than…
May 14, 2020
Fantasy-Sci-Fi
Tropes: How to Make Them Credible, Not Cliché

You could probably name tropes from your favorite books and movies without hardly thinking about it. There’s the Reluctant…
May 7, 2020
Screenwriting
Elevator Pitch

If you think the Coronapocalypse has the US economy down, imagine the effect it is having on Hollywood. Most…
May 4, 2020
Writing for YA
Why Your Beta Stopped Reading Your Manuscript

Finding a reliable and dependable beta reader can be a challenge. They often bail on you. Why? This topic…
April 27, 2020
Romancing Your Story
When All Seems Lost

The Black Moment. The Crisis. The Breakup. There are many titles for that moment when all seems lost. No…
April 23, 2020
Kids Lit
Which Hat Shall I Wear Today?

In January, I had the privilege of speaking about being a writer at a large private school near…
April 21, 2020
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Why Write Mysteries, Suspense, and Thrillers?

Why do you write fiction? Why cloak your story in the mystery, suspense, or thriller genre? The right answers…
April 17, 2020
Mastering Middle Grade
A Conversation with Rebecca Balcárcel

I had the privilege of meeting award-winning children’s author Rebecca Balcárcel through my local chapter of the Society for…
April 16, 2020
Fantasy-Sci-Fi
World Building: What publishers Want

There’s something immersive about opening a fantasy or sci-fi book and feeling like there were hundreds of pages of…
April 7, 2020
Screenwriting
Log lines

In the business of screenwriting, everyone dreams of getting a big sale with their passion project, projects they worked…
April 4, 2020
Writing for YA
Researching and Authenticity in Fiction: Interview with YA Author Felicia Bridges

I’ve always loved books about far flung places. It’s a wonderful way to expand horizons. I decided to talk…
March 27, 2020
Romancing Your Story
How Do You Write Characters of the Opposite Gender Realistically?

This was a question I saw in the Twitter writing community and realized it is a challenge, especially in…
March 23, 2020