By Laura Drake Press On Regardless. I know you’ve seen this phrase before. It’s one of those old sayings, and like dialog tags, they become invisible after awhile. But it’s more to me – it’s my mantra. We start this writing journey, naïve, excited, and hopeful. Actually, we’re that way because we don’t know enough […]

By Laura Drake I’m only beginning to come out of my post-conference fog, and to get my head around all the work I have to do! Before I jump into that though, I wanted to tell you what I learned from this conference. Hopefully it will help you decide if conferences are worth your time […]

By Sharla Rae Just my opinion but The old gray RWA Conference ain’t what she used to be. And I hope she keeps up the good work! At first glance the 2012 RWA Conference may look pretty much as it has in the past. It is and it isn’t. And no, I’m not touting something […]

We're always happy when Laura quits juggling chainsaws long enough to share a blog! By Laura Drake What is theme? You can read the whole definition here, but the gist is: it’s a common thread or repeated idea that is incorporated throughout a literary work. Why use theme? Here's a great article that explains, but […]

by Fae Rowen I am a plot-driven writer. The plot arrives first in my head, then I look for  people who will survive and grow in that world. My #1 concern? My characters MUST connect with my readers. To have the "best book ever" experience, your reader must believe in, root for, identify with, and, […]