I’ve been working on the lessons (and gift) for the upcoming free class I’ll be teaching so thought I’d post something about it here along with more details about the retreat I’m offering next summer (and just in case you don’t take the class). Both the free mini-retreat and summer retreat are exclusive to…
Category: Writing How Tos
What Should You Write and What Should You Avoid?
Today, I thought I’d share with you a process I go through when I’m in writing coach mode. My first question to a client is what type of book are you planning to write and in a couple of sentences, tell me about its plot. I’m hearing more of the same thing and as…
Motivation-It’s What Separates The Unpublished and Published
A few months ago, I had one of those a-ah moments. I’ve been teaching and tutoring for over a decade but I suddenly figured out why some students succeed while others don’t. I can teach people all I know about writing but that won’t be helpful if they’re lacking one thing. No, it’s not talent or…
Let’s Get Those Goals Written
Why do I think it’s important to set some goals before you start to write? Saying you’re going to write a book sounds daunting. And yes, it is. Lots of people say they’re going to do it but few actually get the job done. It has nothing to do with talent or writing ability. Bottom line is it’s…
A Little of This and That
No guest blogger this week, instead it’s me. I thought I’d use this space to post an assortment of things. Lots of people ask me about publishing trends. If you know me well, you already know I say not to focus too much on them because they come and go. However, if you’re self publishing,…
Free Writing Class
Many of you know I teach online classes exclusively for OIRW which is a chapter of the Romance Writers of America. I always try to add new classes each year. I brainstormed ideas for 2020 and came up with the idea of teaching a three month writing retreat where all classes are taught online. Everything…
How Authors Choose Their Genre
Welcome to guest blogger, Nalini Warriar who tells us why she chose to write romances… Romance novels have a central theme: a happily ever after. The book is about how they get there, overcoming obstacles and resolving conflict. A romance novel delves into the emotional state of the hero and heroine’s mind. A good romance…
Five Tips for NaNoWriMo
On Monday, I’ll begin teaching How To Get Ready for NaNoWriMo for the very last time. The class is going into retirement and eventually into the archived classes over at my Zenler writing school portal. Today, I thought I’d share with you what I think are the top five tips you need to know to stand the…
A Series of Firsts
Madeline McEwan is back as this week’s guest blogger… This month, September, represents a series of firsts for me:- First visit to New York City, even though we’ve lived in the States for more than two decades. First interstate flight for my two autistic adult sons—they’re coming with us, reluctantly. First book launch for the…
When One Door Closes…
Judy Penz Sheluk is back again and shares with us a story that illustrates how when one door closes another one opens… It was July 7, and I was enjoying a well-deserved six-week vacation at our camp on Lake Superior when the email arrived in my inbox: my traditional publisher, Barking Rain Press (BRP), announced that…