I have received edits from my first reader who confirms that it is, in fact, technically a book that I have produced. While I generally consider this person to be fairly critical, there are not nearly enough edits in the script to make it better, so I will fix what has been recommended and search... Continue Reading →
Months after "finishing" my first work of fiction, I finally came back to it and tried to fill in the obvious holes in the story. It still needs a lot of work, but today I sent it off to the first reader. It's a big favor to ask of someone -- please read 52,000 words... Continue Reading →
Regular readers know I recently attempted to write a full-length novel. I "finished" it, meaning I wrote it from start to finish, but it needs a lot of tender love and care. If my book were a house, it wouldn't just need window dressings. You'd walk into the kitchen and find that it had no... Continue Reading →
Central Texas is the barbecue capital of the world. This shouldn't be controversial, but in the barbecue world, them's fightin' words. Texas barbecue is not like the stuff you find in Kansas or the Carolinas -- it's all about meat and smoke and that's it. Those sticky ribs from the chain barbeque place? Not Texan.... Continue Reading →
I broke my Monday and Wednesday blogging streak yesterday for two reasons. 1. My middle kid had a blood draw scheduled right after school and I was pretty worried about how that would go down since he is the obstinate one. He did extremely well but was angry with me afterward, though it's honestly hard... Continue Reading →
I took two days off writing for Mother's Day weekend, against the advice of all my writing instructors on Masterclass. It seems bizarre to take cues from internationally famous authors when I'm just trying to type THE END on this book and get it out of the way so I can start something new, but... Continue Reading →
Alright, y'all, I'm about 28,000 words into my first work of fiction and it has become clear that I have never met any people in real life. I don't know how they talk, or how they engage with other people, or even if they're still in the room halfway through a scene. When I first... Continue Reading →
I like to make plans. I make lists of steps to take to accomplish my plans, and there are so many different plans that they become a list in themselves. You might think all this leads to a long list of accomplishments, but alas no. That list is barely a list at all. I decided... Continue Reading →
If I dreamt of being an actress, I'd be going about the business of fame by hanging around soda shop counters and hoping to be discovered for just sitting and sipping. I'm taking the same approach to my writing success. Maybe if I just send words into the abyss someone will say, "can I publish... Continue Reading →
I got good grades in high school and always wanted to be the leader or president of every club, but I wasn't the smartest person in my grade by a long shot. I didn't go to Harvard, get any advanced degrees, or even get promoted before leaving the workforce due to illness and then to... Continue Reading →
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