October 17th, 2018

The Bikini Wax Theory of Writing

Some people talk about writing like they are chasing butterflies along the pretty garden paths of their manuscripts. Like their words frolic with Disney characters. They speak of churning out pages like a high-end laser printer.

I am not one of those people.… Read the post

July 25th, 2018

Ways To Exercise Your What-If Muscle

Posted In:
Craft | Inspiration

Most novels are written on the premise of "what if." Our What-if muscles help us figure out what needs to come next in the story. Sometimes we're lucky and we just know. More often (at least for me) we often have no clue what needs to happen next.… Read the post

October 25th, 2017

Waking Up Early to Write

Posted In:
Blogging Guests | Writer's Life

Jamie Raintree

There has been one goal I've spent my entire writing life trying to accomplish and failing miserably at: waking up early to write.

Over the years, many challenges have played a role in keeping me from mastering this habit.… Read the post

March 2nd, 2016

Why Writing a Book Is Like Making Bread

Posted In:
Craft | Writer's Life

I haven't baked bread for over fifteen years. But I thought about making a loaf of sourdough this week-end. I never had a bread machine, so the idea of spending the better part of a day making a couple of loaves of bread caused my rational brain to engage.… Read the post

December 26th, 2011

The Most Important Writing Lesson I Ever Learned

Posted In:
Bumps & Bruises on the Road to Publication | Inspiration

By Jenny Hansen

Based on the title of this post, you might think I’m going to talk about plotting or character arcs or 3-Act structure… That’s a big fat “Nope!” to all three. There’s a lesson that comes before all those things and it has taken me a long time to get it through my head.

… Read the post