It’s that time of year again. The crisp rustle of (page) leaves, the chill in the air (at the thought of writing a novel in a month)…it’s not just autumn, it’s National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), that magical/maddening season when aspiring authors around the world sprint toward a 50,000-word draft. I participated last year and won. … Continue reading Winter (Writing) Is Coming: Tips for Winning NaNoWriMo
Indie authorship seems to have exacerbated my penchant for masochism: I can't help looking at the bestseller lists, even though it only leaves me sad that my books aren't on them! Browsing the top titles a few weeks ago, the blurb for Dan Brown's latest novel Origin caught my eye. After reconnecting with one of … Continue reading The Beautiful Scientist Problem, Pt I: Three Tips for Describing Female Characters
If you've been following my book reviews, you know how much I enjoyed the Insurrection science fiction serial by my indie author pal Anela Deen. So when she invited me to do a guest post on writing novella series, I was both excited and anxious. What could I possibly say on the topic to someone … Continue reading The ESSENCE of Writing a Novella Serial
"I never saw that coming!" more than one reader has exclaimed about the plot twists that characterize my books. But for someone obsessed with placing unexpected obstacles in her stories, I struggle mightily with them in real life. This weekend I visited family out of town this weekend and had a lovely time…until I went to … Continue reading Real-Life Plot Twists: How Storycraft Saved My Weekend
Biting her lip, the detective sat shakily on the couch across from her would-be partner. “…I’ll tell you everything.” The screen faded to black and my cackles spun out with the end credits. “Ah, this gag never gets old. The next episode will be all about how she hooked up with her partner.” My Laddie … Continue reading Shipping and Handling, Part 2: The Partner-Lover Tango
