We’re in the last month of the year so I thought we’d try photos prompts for the month of December. This first one features a wolf. Does your character see it while he or she is hiking? Are they planning to save it? Does it lead them somewhere they never expected? Do they maybe see it as…
Author: This Writer's Life
Economizing Prose
Say hello to today’s guest blogger, Kathy Otten who offers tips on cutting out extra baggage in our writing… In the same way a driver economizes their gas mileage by condensing trips and monitoring driving habits, as writers we need to do the same with the words we choose to put on paper. During that…
Monday Motivation-Start Anywhere, Anytime
Are you wondering where to start your story? I know lots of students tell me they have a story brewing but at a loss as to where to begin. Don’t let that stop you from writing, begin anywhere…any point in your plot. It could be that will actually be your opening scene. It’s happened to…
Friday Ramblings From An Author-Which Writing Path to Take?
Last day in November, last day of teaching workshops for the year, first day that snow has fallen and is sticking around. Thank you to Meredith for guest blogging this week. And while I’m on the subject of saying thank you and workshops. A huge thank you to everyone who’s taken one of my workshops,…
The Compulsion to Publish
Say hello to guest blogger, Meredith Bond, who tells us why she writes… There’s recently been a thread on a discussion group I follow (I rarely participate, but I always read the postings of others) about why people publish what they’ve written. There have been some really interesting responses. Some people want immortality, to be…
Wednesday Writing Prompts-Your Selling What!
I always say when you’re lost for story ideas look at your life. We all get those annoying phone calls, trying to sell us something, or wanting us to upgrade a service. That’s what happens to your character. He or she gets a phone call from someone selling them something strange. What is the…
The Blank Page-Friend Not Enemy
I always tell my writing students to not overthink their plot, their characters, and to simply get what’s in their head down on paper. It sounds easy but some of them tell me they’ll still struggling with that blank page. I know I’ve been in their position at one point. New exercise book open…
Monday Motivation-Time Can Be On Your Side
I saw this quote which is applicable to everything we’re trying to achieve but never more so than writing a book. If you really want to write a story, you’ll find someway to squeeze in ten minutes here or there to do it.
Friday Ramblings From An Author-Lazy, Rainy, Friday Afternoon
Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. And thank you to this week’s guest bloggers, Tarina and Mary. Anyone had today off work? I decided to take two days off. Well, I say that but I still sneaked in a couple of things. This morning I did some online Christmas shopping and this afternoon did some…
Making the Minutes Count – 4 Tips to Write More When You Have No Time
Say hello to guest blogger Tarina Deaton who tells us how to make the most of our time… “Where do you find the time?” I am asked this question a lot. Let me back up and explain why I am asked that question. I am active duty military, so “I work full-time” is an…