I read a post on Twitter the other day asking the #WritingCommunity what their feelings were in regards to using adverbs and adjectives in their work. There’s a lot of debate on this - should a writer purge all the adverbs and adjectives from their text? Can we use a few now and then? The… Continue reading Writing by the Rules

I’ve finished the first draft of my first real novel (I’ve made a few failed, half-hearted attempts in the past) and found the process exciting and exhausting. As I noted to the writing community on Twitter earlier this week, I felt like I had run a marathon. Because of that, I’m setting the draft aside… Continue reading First Draft

I’ve had a story idea incubating in my head for a few years now, and I think I’ve finally figured out how to write it. Cue sigh of relief. I originally had the idea a few years ago. I immediately sat down and starting writing, but hit the wall after two pages. So I set… Continue reading It’s about perspective…

Why do writers write? Other than to get paid, do we really get anything from performing our craft? Is it all about chasing the next paycheck? Is it for that long-shot at fame? Seeing our name in print? Insanity? I believe that most writers get into the game because they have a need to write,… Continue reading Why do we write?

Everyone has a junk drawer in their house. It's that spot in the kitchen or laundry room where you toss all those bits and pieces: rubber bands, twist ties, old keys, found buttons, maybe even some loose change. It's a collection of things you don't know what to do with but you don't want to… Continue reading A Writer’s Junk Drawer

One skill all writers need to have is the ability to accept constructive criticism with a smile on their face. It wasn't easy for me when I first began showing people my stories and poems. Of course, I was still in high school then and I'm fairly certain teenage angst was partly to blame for… Continue reading Criticism

An artist friend of mine recently convinced me to participate in a 14-day creative challenge. The basic premise is that she will pick a random word from a jar each day, and she and I each have to create something based on that word. Seeing how she is an artist and I’m a writer, the… Continue reading 14 Day Challenge

I was in a store yesterday and while browsing the shelves I came upon an electric typewriter. No, it wasn’t used or vintage. It was brand new, still in the sealed box, for $99.00. I stopped to admire it for a few minutes and chuckle over the fact that on the same day, in two… Continue reading Old School