For a long time, I was adamantly opposed to having anyone but family members and prospective agents read my books. Eventually, when I signed a contract for two series with a small press publisher, I had to get used to having people (editors, in particular) go over my stuff with a fine-toothed comb. The process taught... Continue Reading →
School visits – Ten things every author should know
As an author who specializes in writing fiction for the younger generation, I know that a good portion of speaking engagements will be with that younger generation (more specifically, middle and high schoolers). Now, with a few of those (terrifying!) experiences under my belt, I'd like to help my fellow writers out with a brief... Continue Reading →
What is steampunk?
Steampunk. If you're a writer, you may have run across this cute little term in an editor or agent's "interests" section. As a reader, your thinking, "Say what? Punk?" Yeah, I know. Makes me think of pink Mohawks too. But don't get confused here. Steampunk is a blenderized combination of the late 1800s/early 1900s, industrialization,... Continue Reading →
What the fudgcicles? To cuss or not to cuss in YA fiction…
In every writing workshop I conduct, the topic of using swear words in teen fiction is a huge issue of debate, with people as polarized over the subject as the American legislature on the Affordable Healthcare Act. And I have to say, I've found both sides (on the swear word debate) to have valid reasons for... Continue Reading →
How many words to write…a creative person’s lesson in time management
I am a writer. That means that while I do many things, my mind is in Never Never Land, working out the stories in my head. If it sounds a little crazy, that's because...well...it is. I discuss my writing habits with many people, and because I have small children and several endeavors in development, the fact that... Continue Reading →
My favorite guests at a writer’s workshop
Every month or so, I teach a writing workshop, and I find that just like when I coached skating, my own mastery of the craft improves as I review the fundamentals. So as I gear up for my next gig (Jumpstart Your Novel Class), I find that I'm excited to get in touch with some old... Continue Reading →
The curse of good writing
This past week, I finally got around to reading John Green's The Fault in Our Stars. I had high expectations, because of the buzz, of course. And the book met those expectations, except, not exactly in the way I expected. Here's the thing. It's hard for me to love a sad book. But this novel... Continue Reading →
My new love – The Emotion Thesaurus
I have discovered a very cool writing resource. The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Expression, is pretty awesome. I love it. I mean, I touch it a lot, give it yearning looks, and glow when I gaze on it. Okay, so that may be a little over the top as far as showing... Continue Reading →
The craft of writing – Always a learning process
I love to write. I always have. In the first grade, I wrote a story about a princess tiger who takes a cloud train back to the zoo. The concept was a little strange, to say the least, and the illustration, was, uh, imaginative. But if nothing else, I like to look at the homemade book to remind myself of... Continue Reading →
My next big thing – or rather, two things
Generally, I like to play my "next big thing" ideas close to my chest, but I was asked to join this blog hop by the talented Paulette Rae, so I decided I'd tell you a little bit about the two books that will complete the Teen Mobster Series. If you haven't read Accidental Mobster, well, you... Continue Reading →
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