I Need Your Help Again!
As I mentioned a while back, I plan to have the covers of my backlist e-books redesigned. I’d love it if you could help me with some decisions along the way. Here’s the first choice I have to make for my book Reflection. Which cover appeals to you the most? Left or Right? (Try to…
Read MoreStory Weekend: Your Childhood Kitchen
I’m a little late getting Story Weekend up this weekend due to company, but here we go! Sometimes when I teach workshops on characterization, I have participants do an exercise I always find helpful. First, I have them close their eyes and then remember the kitchen from their childhood home–everything they can see and hear…
Read MoreWhat's Wrong with this Picture?
I was going through my pictures from last week’s retreat with my fellow writers when I came across this one. I didn’t notice it when I snapped the pic, but my bud Alexandra Sokoloff, ordinarily so beautiful, looks a little . . . octopus-like, doesn’t she? It took me a minute to realize she was…
Read MoreDoing the Sheltie Dance
With Daylight Savings Time coming to an end, Jet and Keeper didn’t understand why dinner was so late. I told them to “go play” and they did!
Read MoreStory Weekend Theme: Sewing
I’m a Project Runway fan. That’s a bit odd, since I couldn’t design something wearable to save my life and I really don’t care that much about clothes to begin with. Give me jeans and t-shirts and a comfy sweater. What more do I need? But I still get a kick out of watching Project…
Read MoreKids and Computers
I was in the Apple Store this weekend (bad idea. On the weekend, Apple Stores smell like my old high school locker room, but I really had no choice.) My second iPad had died and needed to be replaced. While I was waiting for my appointment with the genius, I watched the kids at the…
Read MoreTurning an Idea into a Story
One thing a writer learns early is the importance of “showing” instead of “telling”. It’s a real problem for many new writers, but seasoned writers struggle with it, too. That’s what I’m grappling with right now as I flesh out my work-in-progress. I’ve written the long synopsis that describes the novel, but how do I…
Read MoreStory Weekend: Ghosts
I’ve spent the last week with five of my writer friends at the beautiful Weymouth Mansion, where serious North Carolina writers are allowed to stay and work for up to two weeks each year. We try to come each spring and fall and we get so much done on our works-in-progress. The mansion has a…
Read MoreSneezy and Dopey in North Carolina
Yes, I’m afraid that’s how I’m feeling. I like to blog on Monday morning to start the week off right, but you’ll have to bear with me this week. I’m on retreat with my writer buds–Mary Kay Andrews, Sarah Shaber, Margaret Maron, Alexandra Sokoloff and Brenda Witchger–and I’m fighting a cold I picked up at…
Read MoreStory Weekend: Earrings
Wow, the last Story Weekend really got to me. Your stories–and your openness–touched me deeply. I think many of us have a need to share those “what if” moments in our lives. I think we need a lighter topic this week, though, so here it is: earrings. I look forward to reading what you do…
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