The Writing Life
Finding and Trusting Your Creative Process
Years ago, when I was in dance and working on choreography, I would arrive at the studio having a general idea of some things I wanted to try. But it was only in the act of moving that specific ideas, bits of movement, and whole phrases, often ones I hadn’t even contemplated, would emerge. On…
Read MoreWriting Out of Our Comfort Zone
I’m in a writing group where we regularly give each other feedback on our novels-in-progress. In addition, we’ve been working our way through one of the classic books on craft, Writing Fiction by Janet Burroway. We’re now up to Chapter Four in the 10th edition, “The Flesh Made Word,” on indirect methods of character presentation.…
Read MoreButt-In-Chair: The Only Prescription that Works for Me
With three deaths in the family over the past few months, not to mention holiday visits with family, my regular writing schedule has unquestionably taken a hit. There have been days and even weeks of interruptions. Each time, as I’ve gotten back to my writing, I’ve noticed a definite pattern: Paralyzing fear about starting back…
Read MoreWriting What You Know- Or Want to Know
The other day, I was sitting in a writer’s group getting some feedback on my latest work. A fellow writer turned to me and asked, “Are you always writing about people in the arts?” I realized the answer was “yes.” It wasn’t as though I decided that I was going to make a career out…
Read MoreThe Course of True Love Isn’t The Only Thing That Doesn’t Run Smooth
Last week, I was thrilled to sign a contract for my third novel, a coming of age romantic mystery. Leisha’s Song is scheduled for publication early next year. Leisha’s story is a project close to my heart, and I wish I could say that the process of finding a publishing home for it was a…
Read MoreA Writer’s Least Favorite Part of the Job
My son went back to work this past week at the inner city high school where he teaches. When he handed in the requested form indicating that he planned to return the following year, his principal was effusive. “He got really excited, Mom,” my son told me. “It feels good to be wanted.” It…
Read MoreChoices
There’s definitely something about losing the remaining senior generation of your family. In the last five months, my husband and I lost his mother, his grandmother, and my mother. Coping with a trifecta of grief and loss has been tough, but it’s also made me do a lot of reflecting. With the time I have…
Read MoreFinding Your Tribe Helps In Surviving the Ups and Downs of the Writing Life
Monday morning did not start out well for me. I opened my email to discover a publisher’s rejection of a writing project close to my heart. As rejections go, it was a very nice one. The acquisitions editor pointed out some strengths of my manuscript and encouraged me to submit more work in the future.…
Read MoreWhat John Lennon Said
On the wall of our music studio at home, my husband hung up a plaque with one of our all-time favorite quotes by John Lennon: “Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.” That certainly has been the case in my own life. For example, years ago, in the wake of a…
Read MoreThe Two Most Common Questions Writers Get Asked
If readers have enjoyed a writer’s book, I’ve noticed that there are two questions they repeatedly ask. The first is usually some variation of, “So what’s your next book about?” and the second is, “Where do you get your ideas?” Recently, I decided to redo my website (currently in progress) and took a stab at…
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