Why I’m Super Excited about the Relaunch of The Dressmaker’s Secret
Hey readers! I’m back, and this time I want to talk about something I’m legitimately excited – nay, even thrilled – about … I am super pumped for the launch of The Dressmaker’s Secret! And here are my reasons: Reason #1 It’s a rewritten version, and it’s probably my favorite version I’ve ever rewritten! It’s […]
How Did 2019 Go, Anyway?
Hey everyone! This is my first post on my brand new (ish) blog, and I’m super excited! I can’t wait to share more awesome posts with you. But this first post is a boring one just talking about the MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN THE WORLD, THE AMAZING KELLYN ROTH. Okay, you’ve got me – I’m […]
Does Writing Advice Put a Damper on Our Creativity?
Recently, I’ve seen writers talking about how writing advice, story craft, and other tips and tricks for writing a better novel are useless. In their way of seeing it, writing advice tends to lead to formulaic stories, sub-parr novels, and writers not seeking a certain “it” factor. Writers don’t need advice — they need to […]
How to Turn Your Plot Points into Scenes {yes, another outlining post}
I was going to let outlining rest now and post about something else, but a question a friend commented kept niggling at the back of my head. And I just couldn’t let it go. In an article a few weeks ago, I discussed my current, complicated outlining method, but I totally neglected to give tips […]
Lessons Learned from Not Writing
I haven’t not been writing for more than a few days altogether in a long time. I just write like that — in bulk, pushing myself as far as I can go. But now I’m not writing. In fact, I’m not doing a lot of the things I have always been pushing myself to do. […]
5 Non-Outline NaNoWriMo Prep Necessities
NaNoWriMo prep generally revolves around outlining, daydreaming, and pep talks, but there are some other things you’ll want to have prepared ahead of time. What if you miss them? Last week I wrote about how to create your outline, and this week I’ll dive into these other, lesser-known-but-very-important elements of NaNoWriMo prep. Note: I’m working […]
How My Current Outlining Method Works
Today I’m going to be using my outline for Ivy Introspective to show y’all how I plan for NaNoWriMo, outlining-wise. My current outlining method is my current favorite, obviously, and I hope it’s helpful to you! Next week I’m hoping to fill you in on some non-outlining ways to prep for NaNo, but an outline […]
5 Practical Steps to Overcoming Unfinisheditis
You’ve had it. I’ve had it. We’ve all had it. That’s what writing is for beginners, after all – not finishing stories. And it’s okay, at first, to test out a thousand little plot bunnies. But at some point, to become an author, you must finish a novel. Still, it’s not like it’s easy. So […]
How to Punctuate Dialogue for Beginners (and people like me who never paid attention)
There are punctuation rules you might not have run across in your essay writing – or at least you didn’t probably run into it often. If you read a lot, you’ve seen it … but do you remember? I had to learn how to punctuate dialogue after I started writing, and it wasn’t necessarily the […]
This is Your Permission to NOT Publish
Dear young writer, I don’t know where you are in your writing journey. But I know so many writers like you who put their all into their craft. You care about writing, so naturally you want to make a career out if it. Is it any wonder you want to be published? But should you? […]
5 Myths About Writing Debunked
There are a lot of myths about writing out there. It’s important for us to be aware of them … and to move on. So let’s debunk those myths! Sidenote: a lot of these are myths for a good reason! Writing has changed over the years. Back in ye olden days, it was quite a […]
Review of Rhododendron, Oregon Area
Hello everyone! Today I’m writing a review of the Rhododendron, Oregon Area – and more specifically of my birthday trip there just last week. My friends and I had an amazing time – but of course that doesn’t mean we can’t critique. I’m going to tear this trip apart in a very serious, very honest […]