The Writing Life
It’s One Year Old! Thinking About DEADLY SETUP
Recently, Shey Saints interviewed me for an author feature on HubPages (https://hubpages.com/literature/interview-with-author-lynn-slaughter). One of her questions was, “Which of your books do you relate to the most?” I talked about both While I Danced and Leisha’s Song because the protagonists’ struggles with parents who opposed their interest in pursuing careers in the performing arts mirrored…
Read MoreReaders Make It All Worthwhile
I’m not sure whether it’s because I’m a writer or just generally a nosy person, but I read the acknowledgements that typically appear at the ends of books. I’m always curious about the folks who helped other authors on their journeys to publication. I spent yesterday reading a riveting debut thriller, A Flicker in the…
Read MoreI Can’t Use This for a Query Letter, But…
One of the first things you learn about query letters is that no agent or publisher is going to be impressed by your telling them that you’re sure they’ll want to take your manuscript on, since your mother and your husband absolutely love it. Not exactly unbiased readers! The same could be said for grandsons.…
Read MoreWriting Accidents
I once wrote a personal experience piece called “Confessions of an Accidental Novelist” in which I explained that I hadn’t intended to become a fiction writer. In fact, I was quite convinced I lacked the “fiction gene.” I’d spent most of my professional life as a dancer and dance educator. Even though I enjoyed writing…
Read MoreAdults Need That One “Trusted Adult,” Too
Years ago, I was interviewing a psychologist for an article about the challenges of adolescence when she said: “What a kid really needs to make it through the teen years is that one trusted adult who supports and encourages them.” Lately, I’ve been thinking that having a “trusted adult” matters long after our teenage years…
Read More“So, What Are You Working On?”
The two most common questions fiction writers get asked are: “Where do you get your ideas?” and “What’s your story about?” With each new release, I make a point of doing my best to respond, explaining what gave me the idea for the novel, as well as describing the plot. For DEADLY SETUP, for example,…
Read MoreStrap On Your Seatbelt: The Ups and Downs of the Writing Life
Monday didn’t start out well. Sitting in my email box was a rejection from the SOKY Book Festival. I’ve received plenty of rejections as a writer, but this one stung, probably because it was unexpected. DEADLY SETUP, my recent release, had already been awarded a silver medal by the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards, and LEISHA’S…
Read MoreSeinfeld Revisited
To this day, I’m a huge fan of the classic TV sitcom Seinfeld. One of my favorite episodes is when Jerry discovers that although he reserved a rental car, when he arrives to pick it up, it’s not there. “It’s not enough to take a reservation,” Jerry says. “You have to keep the reservation.” I…
Read MoreOutside My Comfort Zone
“Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.” L. Doctorow I’ve always enjoyed Doctorow’s simile, but up until recently, I never thought it applied to me. When it comes to plotting my novels, I’ve been…
Read MoreWriting Schedule Interruptis
My sister Marty, a fantastic grant writer and development professional, recently retired and has embarked on writing a memoir (which I can’t wait to read!). Recently, she asked me questions about my life as a working writer: Do I put myself on a writing schedule? Yes Do I have a preferred time of day to…
Read More