Last time I began sharing about street teams and showed a picture of my favorite readers reading my books. This time I’m continuing writing about street teams, and I’m sharing another picture, this time with their faces showing. Shameless of me, but it’s a mother’s prerogative, isn’t it? So, I started my street team. In […]
Beginnings, Middles, Endings
BEGINNINGS, MIDDLES, ENDINGS Beginnings, middles, and endings are all part of life itself. As authors, we control how our stories begin, what happens in the middle, and how they end. To skillfully weave together character, settings, and plot, drawing readers in at the beginning, keeping them engaged throughout the middle, and leaving them satisfied at […]
Writing Your Way
Early in my writing, it made me feel like I wasn’t ever going to be good enough. The number of conferences and workshops I attended didn’t matter. Adding books on the craft of writing to my library wouldn’t help. I would never be able to rise above being a mediocre writer without hope becoming more. […]
Street Teams (#1)
I’m talking about street teams in this post. In the picture are four of my favorite readers, my children! Since I don’t have a street team yet, I chose this picture because they’re doing what a street team member does–promoting an author’s work. For the next few months, besides pounding out a rough draft and […]
Taking A Time Out
As a parent I had to learn to recognize when my children needed a time out. I’m not talking about a disciplinary action to give them time to consider their actions and consequences. The times I’m talking about are those times when a child’s activity and input has been so constant or exciting that their […]
Ripping Out the Seams
One of the first rules of sewing my mom taught me was how to use a seam ripper. It seems backwards, doesn’t it? Learning how to undo a seam instead of put one in. But it has come in handy time and time again, especially when learning how to do a zipper. If you don’t […]
Writing Alone Together
“Writing is a solitary occupation.” – Jessamyn West I don’t know much about Jessamyn West, but I think she has the author’s life right. I also think she’s got it completely wrong. The quote goes on to speak of interruptions and the need to be completely alone in order to finish the task of writing. […]
Creating Memorable Heroes and Heroines
What makes a hero and heroine memorable to readers? Often it’s the fire and ice relationships that make for an interesting read. In the world of fiction, as well as real life, opposites seem to attract. When creating lead characters, writers often choose unlikely combinations. A backwoodsman and a city girl. A rich heiress […]



































































































































































