What can a new writer expect from a veteran?
Often, when newer writers come to a writing event, they’re fearful. They worry others will put them down, especially the pros.
Maybe a few established authors fear competition, but not the best ones. Instead, they offer advice, acceptance, and encouragement.
Mystery and adventure author Paul Keprecos, in a recent Facebook post, spoke about meeting bestselling novelist Sue … Continue reading
Books, like quilts, require assembling many pieces.
When I visited my in-laws before Christmas, I was amazed at the progress my mother-in-law had made on her latest quilt.
When I first saw the project in July, I feared it was more than she could handle. The intricate pattern called for hundreds, if not thousands, of tiny pieces. All she had was large sections of fabric.
By … Continue reading
Challenge yourself to create more vivid writing.
I appreciate the advice from children’s writer Christian Harder Tangvald: “Circle every is and was on your manuscript; you don’t want writing that’s “isy” and “wasy.”
So I checked each use of was while I edited the 60,000-word YA novel. It started with 942. I cut that to 786.
The word isn’t evil; but it’s often slothful. These before-and-after … Continue reading