[Read about the first phase here: preparing to write.] The second stage, called the germination stage by Louise De Salvo Ph.D. in Writing as a Way of Healing, is a time “during which we gather and work on fragments of ideas, images, phrases, scenes, moments, lines, possibilities for plots, characters, settings. Sometimes we don’t quite […]
writing advice
Celebrating Freedom….for Writers
Sometimes, in order find freedom, you have to take the exit pointed out for you. Last week was one of those weeks. And at the end of this post, I’ll share with you a very easy path to the freedom to focus. Losing Focus I had reached the middle of a novel, one thoroughly plotted […]
Writing Advice: One Size Doesn't Fit All
Over the years, you might feel that I’ve given you conflicting advice. One week I might say, “Write every day!” Another time I might advise you to “get some rest and renewal.” While it might appear to be conflicting advice, I think it has more to do with the fact that we’re all different–and at […]
Marketing Help is Here!
The Frugal Book Promoter: Second Edition: How to get nearly free publicity on your own or by partnering with your publisher. I very rarely read an e-book and then buy the hard copy–but I did in this case. I have to mark it up, add my colored flags and post-its, and turn down page corners. Why? […]
What Makes a Good Book?
We writers all want to know what editors REALLY think about our submissions. Especially with rejections, we wish we could know what is wrong with the story. If you want some terrific insights into this question, I’d recommend Second Sight by Cheryl B. Klein. (The full title tells it all: Second Sight: an Editor’s Talks […]