NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is almost here. I will not be partaking in the normal manner. I am not beginning a novel from scratch but am editing and rewriting instead. However there is so much ENERGY surrounding NaNoWriMo that … Read More
You can. You really can. You can do anything for 5 Minutes. Spoiler alert, this is my last Breast Cancer Awareness Month Post for 2018. But it is also about perseverance and survival. Of anything. Once you become aware of … Read More
I am a bit superstitious about Oct 9. I believe I became a cancer survivor the minute I discovered the lump in my breast and started my journey to discover what it was. I never say I am a _ … Read More
Self Expression and Trauma I have been working with a main character who is going through multiple layers of trauma. I started looking from a side angle at my character and asked, How does my character release trauma? We all … Read More
7th grade, Middle School, Junior high. I don’t think you can find anyone who says “I wish I could go back to middle school.” High school or college or even grade school but not middle school. I went to public … Read More
Never doubt that real life can inspire you in your writing. I love teaching my character creation workshops. I love creating characters. Even though I have the 25 questions available I also am adding to that list all the time … Read More
This past week I moved our oldest to NY. It was a huge new world moving in that city and included a 5th floor walk up and 20 flights up on my tracker for the first day. Phew! In … Read More
When your kids leave home it happens in stages. First comes school, then maybe a sleep over, maybe summer camp. Then perhaps a school trip comes along and then college or work or military follows and all too quickly they … Read More
Writer’s Block is a lie. As I have said before I don’t believe in writer’s block. I really don’t. I am never at a loss for words. Ask my friends and family, I always … Read More
My first SCBWI conference. The first time I heard about SCBWI my neighbor told me about it, in 1995! She referred to it as “ska buii” —I looked into it but I ddin’t get involved at that point. I think … Read More