Musings from the Slush Pile

Tomorrow I speak at the Lakeland Community College. It’s the 21st Annual Western Reserve Writers Conference and I have the exciting opportunity to give a workshop on reaching writing goals, Get the Facts. Make a Plan. Get Published. I’m pretty excited about this. For one thing, it’s my first workshop given at a college, so w-o-w . . . → Read More: Get the Facts. Make a Plan. Get Published.

Inflate Your Characters by Walking a Mile in their ….

Pumps? Flip flops? Work boots? Moccasins? Justins? Loubouttins?

I love getting to know my characters. I’m a visual girl and one way I do this is by flipping through magazines or websites or comparing them to someone I know. Once I know what they look like, I decide . . . → Read More: What’s Your MC Wearing?

What Value Do You Add to Your Readers’ Lives?

by Dana Sitar

The cornerstone of your platform is this gigantic but basic question: What value do you add to your readers’ lives? Whether you’re trying to pin down your audience for your marketing strategy, drawing up a book proposal, or drafting your blog’s editorial calendar, it all . . . → Read More: Writer Wednesday Welcomes: Dana Sitar

Five Tips to Help You Complete Your Book

Lois Roelofs has graciously agreed to stop by today as part of her Wow! Women on Writing Blog Tour. I’m honored to have her and can’t wait for you to meet her too! She’s bringing what every writer needs: 5 Tips to Finish Your Book!! Enjoy!

5 Tips to Finish . . . → Read More: Musings Welcomes:Author Lois Roelofs!

I am a huge YA reader. Addicted is an understatement. For every book I read meant for the 25 & over crowd, I read an entire freaking library of YA. Then a non-YA. Then 47 YAs. You get it. Despite my YA obsession, I rarely do book review these days. There’s a bunch of reasons you . . . → Read More: Book Review: Ten Things We Did (and probably shouldn’t have)