A story has no beginning or end; arbitrarily one chooses that moment of experience from which to look back or from which to look ahead. ~The End of the Affair by Graham Greene (1951) There’s truth in that first sentence of Graham Greene’s novel. A writer does have to pick that moment to let her characters come to life and …
Writing the Stories I Want to Write
“Help me to continue writing through those black moments of discouragement when I feel that nothing I write is good or worthwhile or will ever be read by anyone.” (an excerpt from A Writer’s Prayer by H. Joseph Chadwick) From the time I got hold of my first notebook and pen, I wanted to be a writer. All those lines …
A Look Back at Brainstorming for Angel Sister
Working on the narration of my third Rosey Corner novel, Love Comes Home, has me thinking about Rosey Corner again. I did so enjoy getting to know those Merritt sisters plus one and sharing their lives through ten or so years with you readers. I dedicated those stories to my mother and her three sisters. Their stories about growing up in a …
Finding “The End” Yet Again
One of the questions I am often asked when I’m giving a book talk or just out and about in my town and meet up with someone who knows I write books is “How many books have you written?” A reasonable question. One I might be curious to know if I was talking to a writer. But I always tell …
Writer Question – How Do You Get Published?
Publishing is a business. Writing may be art, but publishing, when all is said and done, comes down to dollars. ~Nicholas Sparks Not long ago, I asked what questions you would like to ask me or perhaps any writer. I answered Lavon’s question about Hobbies, Ideas and Inspiration a week or so ago. You can click on the link if …
Hobbies, Ideas, and Inspiration from a Writer’s Perspective
When I posted my “Who Are You?” answers on Sunday, I invited you readers to ask any questions I didn’t answer. A few of you did that. Lavon asked, “Do you have other hobbies, besides writing?” I wouldn’t call writing a hobby, but my work. However, it is work I can do at home and somewhat set my own schedule. …
Chasing the Writing Dream Through Rejection Valley and Beyond
Have you ever had a dream that seemed so big, so impossible that you were almost afraid to admit you were thinking it? That’s how I was when I was a kid and first decided I wanted to be a writer. I had no idea how I was going to make that happen. I just knew I wanted it more …
The Value of Perseverance
Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other. –Walter Elliot (1888-1958), Scottish politician Sometimes when I give a talk about writing, I’m asked what characteristic is most valuable to a writer. I can’t really answer that for everybody, but for me it has to be perseverance, that stubborness in my will center that …
Facing the Page
At some point, you have to sit down and face the page alone. At some point, the final decisions need to be yours. At some point, you have to give yourself deadlines and stick to them. ~John McNally I’ve begun my next book. My deadline looms out there and even though it’s a few months away, those months will slide …
New Caption Game – Marbles, Anyone
Our brains are built to benefit from play no matter what our age. ~Theresa A. Kestly It’s my birthday month so it’s time to have some fun and to give away some books. Of course, you can check out Last Sunday’s post, Mining Parenting Memories, and leave a comment on that post to be entered in a drawing for a …