novels of suspense, romance and intrigue
In addition to the pleasure my books have given me, the experience has been something of a revelation. It occurred to me yesterday that I have reason to feel confident about my work. Reason to believe in my own product. I've been proud of myself for completing them, but didn't consider their intrinsic value beyond what they mean to me personally.
Writing can be a lonely and discouraging experience at times. Those inescapable dark days when we feel like we'll never amount to anything and can't write worth a damn (even though we know it's our lying, double-crossing internal doubter talking), or when someone, even kindly, manages in word or action to dismiss or diminish what… Continue reading The Very Best Days
One of the most extraordinary gifts of human consciousness is the gift of imagination. It's something we don't foster or value much in adulthood, not the way we do in children, though it's a necessary tool of every storyteller from author to actor, teacher to scientist, musician to historian.
The competitive publishing market highlights both benefits and challenges of traditional publishing versus self-publishing. While agents and publishers offer resources for success, many authors remain unpublished or face contract termination. Self-publishing is now affordable, allows for creative freedom, and provides full ownership of work and royalties, empowering authors to define their own success.
It's beginning again: the itch. I've started to play around with a tiny baby kernel of an idea for a book. “If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.” ― Toni Morrison When I say baby kernel, I mean there's no plot yet,… Continue reading The Writing Itch
I'm not going to use the word "stuck," because it isn't completely accurate. Finding the right word or phrase is always important, and stuck sounds so negative. Like I'm stuck in something sticky and unpleasant, which definitely isn't the case. Instead, I'll say I've been positively challenged as I determine what my characters are going… Continue reading Finding Inspiration
