My word of the year for 2017 must be Change (with a capital ‘c’). January steamrolled me in ways I didn’t expect. I quit my day job after eight long (and sometimes terrible) years, the kids are in middle school (the most evil three years of anyone’s life), and my agent and I parted ways. So much change at one time could be enough to make anyone pull a Rip Van Winkle. But … [Read more...]

Here we are, the day after Thanksgiving (in the U.S.). I am thankful for the friendship and support my fellow writers have extended to me this year. Writing may be a solitary pursuit, but it is one that can be enjoyed in the company of other writers. Whether it be at a coffee shop, a casual restaurant, or a glassed-in room at the local library, writer meet-ups make the words … [Read more...]

Creating a story is like knitting or weaving—the difference? Writers use words to create the unforgettable patterns that make readers think of a story long after the last page. But you have to keep track of them. Ever read a story where there was a cool element (maybe a character, or a weakness) introduced but never shows up again? That is a dropped thread. Dropping a thread … [Read more...]