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
Writing Inspiration
Writing Inspiration: Facing the Fear of First Drafts
No One Likes Writing First Drafts While I will always love writing in the Loving Husband and Hembry Castle worlds, my creativity has been pulling me in other directions lately. I've started the academic research that has been on my mind for some time now, and I'm branching out in my fiction. I've been writing … Continue reading Writing Inspiration: Facing the Fear of First Drafts
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?
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)
Guest Post: Bringing History To Life Through Fiction
Behind the Scenes: How Amy Maroney Brings History To Life For me, there are three integral steps to writing historical fiction: travel, research, and writing. Travel is the magic—the pixie dust that sparks my imagination and gives me story and character ideas. Doing research is endlessly fascinating to me. I love disappearing down rabbit holes, … Continue reading Guest Post: Bringing History To Life Through Fiction