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 →
Show And Tell
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 →
Obsessive
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 →
Don’t Count Your Chickens
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 →
How Do People Behave?
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 →
Killer Momentum
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 →
The Business of Writing
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 →
The Inspiration
If possible, try to have at least one retired parent with just enough free time to buy a subscription to Masterclass. The online bank of coursework prepared by people of every profession has something for everyone, including free bonus subscriptions when you purchase a full year of streaming, which your parents should absolutely pass on... Continue Reading →
Hueco
I'm spending some time alone to get the writing part of the book completed this weekend (!!) and I decided to choose an AirB&B in Texas this time, rather than New Mexico. NM is beautiful, and seems to have more places to stay, but if you look a little harder you can find amazing options... Continue Reading →