My latest character question comes from Hobbes first visit to the beach. The Pacific Ocean is anything but pacific off the coast of Malibu. Often rough, usually freezing cold until late in the summer and even then it is still … Read More
Remember the game show “So you want to be a millionaire?” Contestants were allowed to phone a friend for help. I ran a game like that when when I taught 6th grade literature. We would discuss the reading and I … Read More
Do you know how to make a croissant? There is a link below but basically you chill your dough and your butter then you layer the two and fold and roll the dough then chill again. Every few hours you … Read More
SCBWI weekend is over and my head is full of ideas! One of the great takeaways from this event was from Jem Chambers-Black from Andrea Brown Literary Agency. She gave a wonderful talk, and in it described what she asks … Read More
My plan for the year was simple– 1.finish my wip draft and send it to my editor by March 23 2. preplot a novel 3. map the plot of my first draft of another novel–this is one I had worked … Read More
Do you take vacation writing days from your WIP? I don’t mean a vacation from writing but a vacation from your WIP. I was discussing writer’s block with an author over dms recently and I realized that this was the … Read More
Finding Critique partners has been confusing to me. How do you find somebody to read your book and just give you ideas without begging them, paying them, or fearing their criticism? The secret begins in the critique partner knowing one … Read More
Today I want to throw my book across the room. As it is firmly ensconced in my computer I will not do that. I am stuck, sort of. I feel I am second guessing every line if not every word. … Read More
I am a total research geek. I am also proud of it! I love research, find it fascinating and easy to do. Here are 5 Tips for doing research and a bit about how I do mine. Most … Read More
How to hurt a character without hurting yourself Honestly, I have no idea how to do this. It hurts if you are involved with your characters, and since I also have years of training and performance as an actress, … Read More