How to Build a Kitchen: Advice for Revising a First Draft
We always love our Shiny New Idea and think it will be the best thing we’ve ever written. But first drafts are never perfect, and there is often a lot of structural work that needs to be done before they turn into solid manuscripts.
#RevPit 2021 Annual Contest
I did my #10Queries session on Friday, April 16, but rather than trying to scroll through all the hashtags, I’ve compiled everything for you right here. I hope you find some useful tips, whether or not you entered #RevPit 2021!
Sex is Not Gender (And Why This Matters to Editors-for-Hire)
If you follow the #WritingCommunity Twitterverse, you may have seen the uproar over an agent who was recently fired because she maintains a personal Twitter account on which she tweets negative posts about the transgender community.
First-Person POV vs. Third-Person POV: Which Should You Use for a Middle-Grade or Young Adult Story?
In general, which POV is right for middle-grade novels and which is right for young-adult novels?
We Were Born for This
This week, the governor of Michigan (where I live) issued a stay-at-home order until April 13th. Sure, I’m an introvert (do you know any writers who aren’t?). But it’s difficult to reconcile this governmental order with the choice to work from home. In this post that I wrote for AngelellaEditorial.com, I talk about ways that…
My Advice for New Year’s Writing Resolutions: Don’t Make Any
New Year’s resolutions are a bad idea. We’ve all made them. We’ve all failed at them. We all somehow think that THIS year will be different. But we are always wrong.
All I Want for the Holidays: Time to Write
Taking time for yourself is not selfish. Instead it is about recognizing that your need to create is valid and makes you happier and healthier. And if you’re anything like me, it also makes you more pleasant to be around.
#RevPit #10Queries
On Friday, Oct 25th, 2019, I participated as one of the editors for Revise & Resub‘s mini-event, #10Queries, in which authors entered a raffle to win the chance to submit a query letter and the first five pages of a manuscript for a free review with one of the Revise & Resub editorial team. I…
Grammar Rant: Stop Making Up Words!
Irregardless of What You Think, The Reoccurrence of Made Up Words Is Not Okay
Why I Left Facebook
I understand that it is a challenge to leave a platform that makes staying in touch with friends and family literally around the world so convenient. We write one post and everyone we are connected to can see it. That is so much easier than 2,793 phone calls or emails in order to let someone know that we had avocado toast for breakfast.