A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life
Hallelujah
Have you ever “sampled” some art—maybe listened to a song, read a few pages of a book, or watched…
June 6, 2026-
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Writers ChatWriters Chat Recap for May
Writers Chat, hosted by Brandy Brow, Norma Poore, and Melissa Stroh. “The place where craft connects community.” Upcoming Conferences…
May 31, 2026 -
Writing with a Disability (Different Ability)Harness the Power of Your Circles
Recently, I offered a younger disabled friend some advice about resources available to people with disabilities in Georgia. Fortunately,…
May 29, 2026 -
Writing for YAChasing YA Market Trends…or Not
I’ve been reading about the trends in young adult fiction. According to my research, today’s teens experience storytelling in…
May 27, 2026 -
Writing RomanceLocation, Location, Location
Although a romance is between two people, it requires a community. This is one reason small towns are popular…
May 22, 2026 -
Kids LitReview of the Reviews
I clearly remember screaming, “I got a Kirkus!” My loving spouse supported me by saying, “What?” For an author…
May 12, 2026 -
A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life
You Love It, I Don’t
Several years ago, there was a Christian movie that was all the rage. It was a hit, making lots…
May 6, 2026 -
Writing with a Disability (Different Ability)
Opportunities Abound
Earlier this month, I received an email about a new opportunity to use my AI training skills. I was…
April 29, 2026 -
Writing for YA
The Dangers of Safe Fiction
I’m working on my next book in my young adult series and I’m struggling. I keep second guessing how…
April 27, 2026 -
Book ProposalsThe Opening for Your Proposal
From the first sentence, the writing must be well crafted, and the proposal handled with excellence. The editor or…
April 26, 2026 -
The Picky PenCapitalization of Titles and Headers
Most people are familiar with capitalizing proper nouns and words at the beginning of a sentence. This is what…
April 23, 2026 -
Kids Lit
Put Their Book on the Shelf!
One of the most helpful things you can do for an author is to request that your local library…
April 16, 2026 -
Writing with a Disability (Different Ability)
Be Adaptable
Earlier this month, I had a phone conference with a low vision specialist and an eye doctor to assess…
March 29, 2026 -
Writing for YA
Interview with Laurie Sibley: Why Aspiring YA Authors Should Write for Magazines
I heard about the new literary magazine, Sparkler, and was curious about it, so talked with Laurie Sibley, one…
March 27, 2026 -
Book Proposals
How Many Pages in a Book Proposal?
On the surface, it seems like a simple question with a standard answer. How long is a book proposal?…
March 26, 2026 -
The Picky Pen
Latin Clarification Terms
There are several Latin abbreviations that are used regularly in writing. This is particularly common in certain types of…
March 23, 2026 -
Writers Chat
Writers Chat Recap for March Part 1
Writers Chat, hosted by Brandy Brow, Norma Poore, and Melissa Stroh. The place where craft connects community. Achievement Addiction…
March 22, 2026 -
Kids Lit
Maurice Sendak. Dr. Seuss. J. K. Rowling. And me?
(Also Beatrix Potter and Louisa May Alcott.) Our prized common thread? 20–30–45 rejections before a publishing contract. Files and…
March 8, 2026 -
Writing with Humor
Prepare Your Field . . . for a Blizzard
The weather man is not my favorite person right now. It’s Wednesday, and they’re predicting everything but fire and…
March 6, 2026 -
Writing with a Disability (Different Ability)
What’s Your Story
Earlier this month, I started a new side hustle that I have really enjoyed, which has allowed me to…
February 28, 2026 -
Writing for YA
Getting Unstuck: Finding Inspiration in the Classics
It happens to us all at one time or another. Words won’t come and dread of facing the blank…
February 26, 2026 -
Book Proposals
After Your Submission, Learn Patience
After you submit your proposal to an editor or a literary agent, many writers begin to fixate on their…
February 25, 2026 -
The Picky Pen
Engaging Readers Through Dialogue
There are many writing tools that an author uses to keep their readers engaged, but without dialogue, it would…
February 24, 2026 -
Kids Lit
A Troop? Swarm? Gaggle? What do you call a group of Editors?
Whether you are starting or multi-published, there are editors in your life. Some are most helpful before submission, and…
February 6, 2026 -
Writers Chat
Writers Chat Recap for January 2026
Writers Chat, hosted by Brandy Brow, Melissa Stroh, and Norma Poore. The place where craft connects community! How to…
January 30, 2026
