Complete the Character

Complete the Character

Endings are on my mind today. I just spent the last three days with my father (90 years old) who is dying—his body is simply shutting down. Now, we don’t usually write about death in our novels, unless it is a sudden one that must be investigated, but we do write...
So Sorry

So Sorry

So sorry, friends, I have been so busy the latter half of this week that I didn’t have a chance to write my blog for today. Please forgive me… I will be back next week. Have a wonderful week! Merry
Sequels

Sequels

It’s my daughter’s birthday today (Friday, as I write this)—she’s turned 27—and she’s given me an hour to get this blog written before I take her out. We’re going to engage in two of her favorite pastimes—sitting at a café with a cup of coffee and a pastry (something...
Beyond the three act structure

Beyond the three act structure

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you’ll know that one of my passions is story structure. But, why? I hear you cry with incredulity in your voice. Well, for a number of reasons, actually. First, a well structured story is easier to follow for the reader....
Getting Out of My Own Head

Getting Out of My Own Head

I’m a Taurus. If you believe in astrology that’s going to explain everything I’m about to write very succinctly. I have a great deal of trouble letting go of things that happen. I go over them again and again in my head. Sometimes it’s a good thing, but more often...
A glance at my writer’s bookshelf

A glance at my writer’s bookshelf

We all need some help now and then. And we all need guidance on how to do this crazy thing we call “writing a novel”. I’ve found incredible inspiration and learned so many lessons from the books on my writer’s bookshelf. Here are some...