

When the Writer's Conference Isn't Right
Last Saturday, I attended the Washington Writer's Conference, Books Alive! Event. I was excited, a local event where I would meet local...


What Do Your Books Say About You?
I'm halfway through the book, spark joy by Marie Kondo. Kondo, if you haven't heard of her, is a "Japanese decluttering guru," so it says...


Little Titles Mean A Lot
As work on my novel continues, and continues, and continues... I've needed to take a step back and breathe. For me, that means writing...


Class is Now in Session
I'm taking a MOOC. I just love the word - it has that bovine, juvenile sound to it. A MOOC is a massive open online course. A hallmark of...


A Fresh Story Really Makes A Difference
Depending on who you believe, or believe yourself, there are somewhere between six and nine universal stories or themes. These ideas run...


Add a Little Flash to Your Fiction
This past July, I entered the NYC Midnight Fiction competition. This is a 48-hour fiction challenge. Participants are divided into groups...


Predict Your Own Future
I love this sign. Every day I walk by and laugh. If the psychic really had powers, he or she would have hired a proofreader. Bad printing...


And the Winner is Me!
"We won an award," Kris Brinker, owner of SPT/True said, her excitement coming through the phone. "That's great," I said. Kris, in...


I'm not sorry that I don't like your book - I still respect that you wrote it.
I gained something the day I accepted my MFA and I'm not talking about my degree. I gained respect for anyone who has ever completed an...


The Scariest YA Plot Idea Ever!
You've got two children and you have to pay for their childcare, health insurance, food, clothing, and entertainment. - This could be the...