How to Find Time to Write With Children

Maybe I should try this.

I’m kidding… partly.

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No Summaries in Cover Sheets for Short Stories

I had “Trust Mother’s Instinct” and the cover sheet printed out and ready to go. I just had to make the SASE and stick it all in an envelope and drop it off. Then I read this blog post by the assistant editor to Realms of Fantasy saying to quit it with the summaries in [...]

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Why I Love Writing Fantasy

Today I finished incorporating all the comments I got on Trust Mother’s Instinct into v 6.1. I’m still calling it 75% complete, because I want to read through it and make sure all my changes make sense. I plan on doing that after BIAM.
The biggest things I changed were switching “rogue Brene” to “Brene spy” [...]

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Writing and Wisdom

Since I wrote about humility being the most important trait of a writer, I’ve been thinking that stance is incorrect. Right now, I believe the most important trait is wisdom. Or to put it another way, the ability to judge and plan. In this subjective artform, where you are the only one who knows your story, [...]

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The Most Important Trait of a Writer

From Editorial Anonymous, I found a link to a great article titled “The Mindset of the Successful Author” (scroll to the bottom to read). I really liked the explanation of why we should follow the rules (to gain the trust of editors and readers. Once you have that, they’re willing to let you bend the [...]

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Where are the Miltons and Shakespeares?

In 1888,  Elder Orson F. Whitney proclaimed: “We shall yet have Miltons and Shakespeares of our own. God’s ammunition is not exhausted. His highest spirits are held in reserve for the latter times. In God’s name and by His help we will build up a literature whose tops will touch the heaven, though its foundation [...]

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Creating Realistic Characters

Characters are my weakpoint in writing, so I’m interested in advice on how to make my characters more likable. Hence, I really enjoyed today’s email of David Farland’s Daily Kick in the Pants (to join, email dwolvert AT xmission DOT com and say, “Kick me!”).  One thing really stuck out to me:
Many writers in mainstream [...]

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Dave Wolverton/Farland Offers Daily Writing Tips

I found out today that Dave Wolverton (aka Dave Farland when he writes fantasy) is offering daily writing tips through email. I’ve only read a couple of his books (Of Mice and Magic and The Runelords) but I’ve enjoyed what I read. I think I’ll sign up for this. If anything, it could get me [...]

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Help! I Need to Write!

I’m now 2 1/2 weeks away from my due date, or in other words, I could go into labor at any time. Oddly, though, earlier this week I was fantasizing about going back to work.
Say what? Haven’t I always wanted to be a stay-at-home mother? (Yes)
After a bit of pondering, I figured out what was [...]

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Editors Requesting Sex in My Books

I gave up on books when I was a teenager. I just couldn’t find something that was interesting to read, and clean. So, I decided that I would write stories that I wanted to read, and when I went to sell them, I would fight to not put in any sex or language because I [...]

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