Well, it hasn't been a full week since last I wrote, but I am very happy and had to report in. Today, I accomplished two things:

1. I hit the 10k mark on NaNoWriMo
2. I hit the 80k mark on my writing journey

Needless to say, I can barely talk right now. Body is thrumming with absolute, pure joy at making the 80k. I, as I've told you before, wasn't sure this would happen with everything I had to do, but somehow, some way, a story took shape, and I wrote it. I'm still… Continue

“Writing is not in my blood...it’s my DNA.”

These words come from our latest featured author at ChickLitGurrl: high on LATTES & WRITING, a woman who has always made me laugh and always made me feel in her desire to be an inspiration to others, Tracy Spence-Banks. She comes to CLG this month to talk to us about her book, Super Woman: A Guide to Tapping Into Your Divine Super… Continue

It's been a long time coming, but my debut solo novel, the mystery Death at the Double Inkwell, is now available for purchase!



At my official website, I have a one-stop shop page for DDIW, where you can listen to excerpts from the book, listen to my journey to publication, and read commentaries based on themes found within the book.



Here's the link :: [DDIW… Continue

To All READERS of ROMANCE FICTION!







I would love your input on a pilot study I'm conducting titled "Romancing the Reader: Preferences of the Romance Fiction Reader." With this pilot study, I seek answers to several questions, to include:





1- Why do women read romance fiction?

2- Is there a difference in the reading/purchasing habits of romance fiction readers depending on race?

3- What aspects of… Continue

The Blood-Red Pencil: Sharp and pointed observations about good writing





Are you interested in starting a writing workshop? If so, check out my latest commentary at The Blood-Red Pencil, "Components of a Good Writing Workshop" [link].





What are those components? Well, I discuss three: a… Continue

Today at the popular blog on writing and editing - The Blood-Red Pencil, I talk about the need to develop strong characters in stories. Come check out the article and leave comments: Building Character!







The Blood-Red Pencil Sharp… Continue

Last month in my The Write Life for You series, I presented part one of "Building the Author's Ethos" by talking about developing a writing philosophy. This month, I offer part two, developing a marketing plan. As I stated last month, having a great book is good. However--as part one suggests--knowing who you are as a writer and what you bring to the table is very important. Also important is knowing who your audience is and understanding the… Continue

Well, today ends the second Weekend Write of 2010. Right now, I am not focusing on storytelling. Over the last month, I realized that first and foremost in my agenda is school, so most of my major writing will be delegated to that. I was driving myself crazy, thinking I "lost my touch" because I wasn't writing thousands of words a day. I am still being creative; I'm just using my talents to write… Continue

I'm a contributor to the popular blog The Blood-Red Pencil, and my latest article talks about places I get my story ideas. Check it out and tell me what sparks YOUR story ideas!



The Blood-Red Pencil Nobody's perfick, but we try. Snort.… Continue

The next two articles in my The Write Life for You series are about developing the ethos of the author. Yes, it is important to write a great book. It is important to study the craft of writing in order to edit, revise, and rewrite that great book. But the work of a writer doesn’t stop with crafting a great book. The writer must think about his or her career as an author – in regards to what he or she writes and, just as important (if not more), what… Continue

Yes, it's a little after three in the morning. I'm still up. But not for long.

Had a very slow start to my Saturday and was really not in the mood to do much of anything. In fact, I didn't start making any significant moves until well after 6 p.m., and I didn't start to do anything WW related until nearly 11 p.m.…

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Leading up to my first Weekend Write, I have to admit I was nervous. All this month, I've been supposedly working on an outline for a novel I was to write and to gear myself up to work on it during the months of February and March.

There is no shame to my game, so I'll tell the truth: I did nothing. Been dealing with school,…

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At the popular blog on writing and editing - The Blood-Red Pencil, I have part one of my latest piece on writing, "Using Characters and Scenes to Trim the Fat from Your Story" [LINK].





Come and read about how examining your characters can… Continue

Well, as many know, I didn't get a lot of writing done the second-half of 2009. With starting a doctoral program, most of my time was used reading, reading, reading and writing, writing, writing...PAPERS!



Toward the end of the semester and into Christmas break, I decided that I could add my creative writing back into my life if I managed my time better. I have done it in the past, and there is no reason why I can't do it now.



Thus,… Continue

Since August, I have done NOTHING creative, per se. I participated in NaNoWriMo, but I'm smart and realistic enough to know that what I wrote is pretty much garbage for now. It was done to try to get me into a creative mood. Once it was over, it was time to write papers and final exams and high tail it home for the holidays. I'm a few days away from going back for the next semester, and I haven't been creative, still.



I have, however, finally gotten my next project idea. Decided to… Continue

Thought I had lost my creativity. Hadn't been writing since August when I moved to TX to pursue my Ph.D. The last four years, I have jumped into NaNoWriMo and finished it, and so my heart would not allow me to skip this year. But I didn't think I could do it. After all, November is the craziest month of a school semester, what with papers and projects to complete before finals. I didn't think I could do all the academic work AND still write. Well, three weeks in, and I'm closing in on 40,000… Continue

I'm moving to Texas in ... six days and counting. Going to pursue my Ph.D. in technical communication and rhetoric. For a few months, a new screenplay idea has been percolating in my head, and I finally sat to begin outlining the story, but life is getting in the way. There are things to be packed. Family and friends to say goodbye to. Finances to secure. Worries to stress over. Yet my story stays in my head, taunting me, asking, "Don't you still love me?"



And I do, which is why I… Continue