Just a quick note today to let you know that The Swirl and Swing of Words: Embracing the Writing Life was named a #1 New Release on Amazon in Authorship as well as Creativity Self-Help and Authorship Reference. I'm always amazed when things like this happen. Thank you to everyone who has bought the book, … Continue reading The Swirl and Swing of Words is an Amazon #1 New Release in Authorship
Writing
The Swirl and Swing of Words: Embracing the Writing Life is Now Available
I’ve been hoping to be able to make this announcement this autumn and here it is. My newest nonfiction book, The Swirl and Swing of Words: Embracing the Writing Life, is available today, Tuesday, October 29, 2024, in ebook format on Amazon, BN, Apple, and wherever books are sold. An AI-narrated audiobook is available from … Continue reading The Swirl and Swing of Words: Embracing the Writing Life is Now Available
Writing Inspiration: How I Wrote Victory Garden
As much as I love the Loving Husband Series and the Hembry Castle Chronicles, one of my books that really stands out to me is Victory Garden, a novel of the American women's suffrage movement. I've been so caught up writing about James and Sarah for the past few years that I haven't given Victory … Continue reading Writing Inspiration: How I Wrote Victory Garden
Writing Inspiration: Writing a First Draft Part 5
You Must Make Time For Writing Every writer I know has a list of well-refined Excuses. But if you are compelled to write your story, then you must write it. You must sit at your computer, or with your notebook and pen, and physically write out the words. It sounds obvious because it is obvious, … Continue reading Writing Inspiration: Writing a First Draft Part 5
Writing Inspiration: Writing a First Draft Part 4
Keep the Creator and the Editor Separate This is an old writers’ adage heard by everyone who has ever taken Creative Writing 101. The funny thing about this adage: it’s true. If you try to edit as you write, or if you’re too critical as you write, you’re going to stifle yourself, and your creativity … Continue reading Writing Inspiration: Writing a First Draft Part 4
Writing Inspiration: Writing a First Draft Part 3
Your First Draft Will Need Help If you accept that your first draft is going to need a crazy amount of rewriting, it frees you up to write, as Natalie Goldberg calls it in Writing Down the Bones, “the worst junk in the world.” If you've read Bird By Bird you know that Anne Lamott calls them … Continue reading Writing Inspiration: Writing a First Draft Part 3
Writing Inspiration: Writing a First Draft Part 2
Organize your thoughts each day It’s hard to begin writing anything with only a vague idea of what we want to write. Those empty moments when we’re not sure what we want to say are when self-doubts begin to rise, Excuses invade our minds, and we decide we don’t really need to write today after all. … Continue reading Writing Inspiration: Writing a First Draft Part 2
Writing Inspiration: Writing a First Draft Part 1
A Necessary Part of the Process Every writer I've ever known, and every writer I've ever read about, says the same as Hemingway, "The only kind of writing is rewriting." Writing the first draft is a chore, but we can’t proceed to our second, third, or final draft without it. Three books that have helped … Continue reading Writing Inspiration: Writing a First Draft Part 1