3 Reasons to Keep a Penpal
Do you have a penpal? I do, and she’s incredible. At 92, she’s proud to maintain correspondence with 28 penpals! I met her nearly 20 years ago, while I was living on Chincoteague Island for the summer. We lost … Continued
A Room of Your Own: How to Find Space to Create
Do you have a room where you can create? Aside from becoming an early bird, finding the space to write was what made the most difference in my work. Before, I shared a small home office with Mr. Smith. (Do … Continued
5 Ways to Save Your Sanity During NaNoWriMo
So you’ve signed up to do NaNoWriMo — fantastic! You’ve determined your approach. Now, for some damage control. At some point in the month of November, you are going to question yourself. Why would you have registered for this punishment … Continued
Planning Vs. Pantsing: a NaNoWriMo Guide
The leaves are falling, there’s a chill in the air (Actually, it’s sweaty and humid and hot, but a chill is coming…hopefully!), the days are getting shorter… I know what you’re thinking: it’s NaNoWriMo season! So, dust off your … Continued
5 Reasons to Do NaNoWriMo (or Something Else That’s Really Hard)
It’s October! Also known as #NaNoPrepMo !! This will be the first year in a long time I won’t be joining the wordy hordes in “Thirty Days of Literary Abandon”. I’m sad, but also super excited. The reason I won’t … Continued
Avoid Pumpkin Spice Season (and Other Cliches)
I’m going to get angry comments on this one… I am bowing out of Pumpkin Spice Season. I know — it’s the new American September holiday. See that leaf tinged with orange? Pumpkin spice. Foggy morning? Pumpkin spice. Is it … Continued
How to Create More With a Limit
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the seemingly unlimited possibilities for your creative project? Too many creative choices — sounds like an oxymoron, doesn’t it? But technology offers such a multitude of new tools, resources, and doodads, it can … Continued
The 3 Words That Will Change Your Life
I was sitting in the audience of a panel discussion when I heard three words that changed my life. It was at the West Virginia Writers Conference and, among other fantastic writers, R.G. Yoho was on the publishing … Continued
Find Inspiration In Your Family’s Past
Is there anything more fascinating than your own family’s past? A few years ago, I started doing a little genealogy. I say a little, because I thought my family tree would be pretty simple, but the branches really, well, branched. … Continued
Camp NaNoWrimo
Would you like to attend “An Idyllic Writers’ Retreat, Smack-Dab in the Middle of Your Crazy Life”? Then give Camp NaNoWriMo a go. It’s a month-long, online writers’ camp filled with encouragement, puns, and lots of inspiration. And it begins … Continued