Category Archives: Strongly Held Beliefs

Horse of a Different Color and How Writing Matures

Posted on April 29, 2013 by

I’m lucky enough to own a beautiful mare named Belle. She’s half-Andalusian and half-Morgan, and a gorgeous gray. She just turned 16 a couple weeks ago. If you don’t know horses, you might not realize that 1) most of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Cats Horses and Other Pets, Strongly Held Beliefs, The Writing Life, Writing Craft | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Avoid the “Empty Calories” of Extraneous Scenes

Posted on March 9, 2013 by

I am an absolute nut for Junior Mints. I admittedly eat far too many of them in the course of the day, and then have to compensate for the indulgence with daily exercise. My passion for the sweet, minty, chocolate-coated … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Old Memories, Strongly Held Beliefs, The Writing Life, Writing Craft | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Best Book for February

Posted on February 27, 2013 by

This week, YA Highway’s Road Trip Wednesday asks the usual end-of-month question, What’s the best book you’ve read in February? I read (or finished) five books in February: Thirteen Reasons Why (Jay Asher, started in January, finished in Feb) A … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Strongly Held Beliefs, Traditions | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Valentine to Fans

Posted on February 13, 2013 by

This week, YA Highway’s Road Trip Wednesday celebrates Valentine’s Day by asking, What do you love most about writing? At first, I was going to blather on about how I love being a writer because I can work in my … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Strongly Held Beliefs, The Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

What Should a Writer’s Conference Be?

Posted on February 4, 2013 by

Having just returned from the SCBWI winter conference in NY, I started pondering what the best format for an annual writer’s conference should be. Then it occurred to me that there may not be a “best.” Partly because the attendees … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Conference Wisdom, Strongly Held Beliefs, The Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Funny Stuff

Posted on January 23, 2013 by

This week’s Road Trip Wednesday at YA Highway asks, Who is your favorite comedian or funny book and/or movie? I don’t follow comedy much, so I’m not sure I have a fave comedian. If I had to name one, it … Continue reading →

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Goals–Fear & Loathing

Posted on January 9, 2013 by

This week for Road Trip Wednesday, YA Highway asks, What are your goals for the new year–for reading, writing, or other? I gotta tell ya, this kind of question always terrifies me. It goes along with that equally frightening question, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Strongly Held Beliefs, The Writing Life, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

The Shopping Gene

Posted on December 27, 2012 by

If I say, let’s go shopping, and the destination is the local mall, or the outlet stores, or those cute little shops on Main Street, does that invitation fill you with dread or excited anticipation? Does the necessity of going … Continue reading →

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I Love You, You’re Perfect…Now I’m Gonna Revise You

Posted on December 5, 2012 by

This week, with November and NaNoWriMo in the rear view mirror, YA Highway’s Road Trip Wednesday asks, How do you approach editing/revising? So, here’s the first most important thing about revising. You should write your draft knowing that you not … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Strongly Held Beliefs, The Writing Life, Writing Craft | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Lee Child is a Pantser (and So Can You!)

Posted on December 1, 2012 by

The other night, I had the fortunate opportunity to attend a talk by mega bestselling thriller author Lee Child. He is funny, charming, and down-to-earth, not at all the prima donna stereotype of an internationally successful writer. Even in the … Continue reading →

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