Writing Every Day

Writing Every Day

I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the speed at which I write. Since signing a contract with a small publisher for three books and a Christmas novella, I’ve been stressing about my writing a lot more than I’ve had to do since I went indie. As an indie author, I...
As you know…a look into dialogue

As you know…a look into dialogue

Merry gazed into her computer screen at the twelve avid readers of her blog and countless others who popped in every now and then to see what she was writing this week. “You know I love you all,” she said with a wistful smile. “I’ve been writing this blog now for ten...
Some Thoughts for Pantsers

Some Thoughts for Pantsers

You’re a pantser. I get that. Life would be boring if you knew the ending of your story before you wrote it. Your characters need some space to grow and develop on the page as they’re doing in your mind. The story is unfolding under your very fingertips, you write as...
An Author’s Learning Is Never Done

An Author’s Learning Is Never Done

There’s a concept that once you’ve done something for 10,000 hours you are proficient at it. After being a professional author for over fifteen years, I’m pretty sure I’ve reached that many hours but am I proficient? Do I know how to write? Well, yes, and no. I still...
When do you need to show?

When do you need to show?

The more I read the more convinced I am that what makes a great book is all in the show and tell. Knowing when to show, when to tell can really be an art form all in itself. But how do you know? First, let’s define the terms: Showing is having an entire scene,...
Supporting Characters

Supporting Characters

How many characters are too many? I always wonder that when I’m writing. I love to fill my books with people. The fact that I write party scenes where there are supposed to be hundreds of people give me lots of opportunity to fill my books with secondary and tertiary...