“For the dreamers who sat down to tell a story that no one asked them to write.” – Before and After the Book Deal I am a dreamer and because you are here, you must be too. That also means you have questions and lots of them. I do not have all of the answers, but I can direct you to a book that does. … Continue reading The Book with Answers to All Your Publishing Questions – BEFORE AND AFTER THE BOOK DEAL
I slid
down a sentence and bumped into a period. I paused, before entering a new sentence, which turned this way and that…
In May 2018, I attended a workshop on work-for-hire writing at the New England SCBWI Conference. I was interested in finding out what work-for-hire was about.
In retrospect, I wish I’d done that earlier in my writing career… Continue reading Work-for-Hire Writing: Getting Your Foot in the Publishing Door
Who is ready for WriteOnCon? You know we are! For those who can’t wait until next week, I am going to give you a sneak peek into my presentation about neurodiversity. The entire presentation will be shown on Sunday, February 23, 2020, from 12:00 – 12:30 pm EST. Of course, if you get an extended ticket, you can view all events throughout March 22, 2020. … Continue reading Writing Neurodiverse Characters Responsibly
This past November, I did my first ever NaNoWriMo! I’ve always wanted to try and have followed others’ tweets and posts about it with envy, but November has historically been too busy a time of year for me to take on an all-consuming project like writing an entire novel in 30 days. In 2019, though, the stars aligned, and I decided to dive in. THE … Continue reading Reflections on My First NaNo
Holy moly! A new year. A new decade. Both come with excitement, motivation, and promise. But they also come with stress. If you’re like most people, you didn’t get a lot of writing done during the holidays. Either you were enjoying a house filled with friends and family, filling someone else’s house with holiday cheer, or hanging out at home stuck in a sugar rush-crash-rush-crash … Continue reading Jump Back into Writing With a Hop
Since we started blogging, members have written front-list books with big 5 publishers and work-for-hire books. Some have become Pitch Wars mentees and/or Pitch Wars mentors. Some now offer critiquing/writer coaching services… Continue reading This Blog Is Under Construction!
Can posture improve your writing? This was a question I pondered when author Amber Smith visited me for a few days. In my efforts to be a good host, I kept trying to encourage her to write in “comfy” spots, like my soft couch or a beanbag chair outside. She confessed she had to sit upright at a desk or table to feel like she … Continue reading MYC: Sit Up Straight!
A sprint is a timed exercise for writers, usually used to get lots of words onto the page. Today, six of our Winged Pen members give their 7 best sprinting tips. Let it fly! Laurel Decher: Chris Fox’s 5,000 Words Per Hour reminded me that it isn’t always about getting more words or the right voice. I made myself a doodle: 1. I want to … Continue reading A Winged Pen Round-Up: 7 Best Tips for Writing Sprints
LEARNING ABOUT WRITING BY NOT WRITING. WHAT? I have a summer writing assignment for you but don’t worry, it won’t be graded and it’s something you can do with family and friends. It doesn’t even require pen, paper, or opening a Word document. But trust me, it will help your writing tremendously. Here’s what you need: A TV or computer, a comfortable chair, pillow and … Continue reading Writing Homework: Watch TV
Writers need self-care, too! Check out our Winged Pen tips. Continue reading Self-Care for Writers
We’ve all heard that writers are introverts. Maybe it’s because we spend so much time working alone, or because we’re always in our heads thinking, developing, and writing stories. Some writers know how to get out of their own minds and socialize when at conferences. Others do not. I fall into the DO NOT category. But let me explain. Not only am I constantly writing … Continue reading Tales From an Introvert: My Experience at the SCBWI Winter Conference 2019
