Mary Anna Evans' Life As a Writer A few years ago, I was speaking to the Institute for Learning in Retirement in my hometown, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. It was a large crowd of people who thought that retirement was great because it gave them more time to learn things. In other words, these were my kind … Continue reading Guest Post: Historical Novelist Mary Anna Evans
An Update For And Shadows Will Fall
Another great cover from Jenny Q! While I'm on vacation, I thought I'd add some updates about And Shadows Will Fall. Originally, I included this in another post, but since I'm still getting questions I thought I'd repost it here. Keep your questions coming. I love hearing from readers. What About And Shadows Will Fall? … Continue reading An Update For And Shadows Will Fall
What Is A Commonplace Book And Why Should You Keep One?
What Is A Commonplace Book? Lately, I've been seeing many posts about commonplace books. Once I discovered what commonplace books were, I was surprised I hadn't kept one before. Then I realized that I have kept commonplace books, only I called them quote journals. Maybe you have too. The simplest way to understand a commonplace … Continue reading What Is A Commonplace Book And Why Should You Keep One?
What I’m Reading: Witches, 16th Century Life, and Demon Copperhead
As always, summer is a wonderful time for reading. While I haven't had a chance to visit the beach, summer days are perfect for lazing around with a good book and a glass of iced tea. Here's a bit of what I've read this summer. The Practical Magic Series by Alice Hoffman So far, I've … Continue reading What I’m Reading: Witches, 16th Century Life, and Demon Copperhead
Advice For Young Writers: How To Get Published
I Was a Guest Speaker at Writers' Block I was invited to speak at Writers' Block, a group of young people studying the craft of writing. When I asked what the group wanted to learn about, the answer came back overwhelmingly that they wanted to learn more about the publishing side of writing. As I … Continue reading Advice For Young Writers: How To Get Published
Guest Post: How Lucretia Grindle Writes Historical Fiction
The Importance of Character, Setting, and Situation A friend whose opinion I respect a great deal once told me that all a great historical novel is, is a great novel in a historical setting. I agree. Although that sounds deceptively simple and deserves a little unpacking. Character, setting, and situation are the central components, the … Continue reading Guest Post: How Lucretia Grindle Writes Historical Fiction
What Is Slow Writing and Why Is It Good For You?
My Definition of Slow Writing I had an interesting time putting this post together. Normally, when I write a post like this I do a little research to help me find others who share a similar opinion. But when I looked for slow writing on several search engines, I didn’t find much. I found some … Continue reading What Is Slow Writing and Why Is It Good For You?
One Tip To Keep Writing (Even When It’s Hard)
Writing Can Be Hard No matter how much I love to write, sometimes it's just hard. I don't mean having writer's block, although sometimes that's an issue too. It can be a challenge to find the motivation, or it can be a challenge to find the time. I've been a professional writer for more than … Continue reading One Tip To Keep Writing (Even When It’s Hard)