I got the Workbook that goes with Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass. I read the main book a while ago, and I haven’t had a chance to read much beyond the first chapter of the workbook yet, but what I’m seeing looks like a lengthy, but worthwhile endeavor. The first exercise asks, “Who…
Diary, journal, memoir, chronicle, first hand account. Why on earth would anyone bother with such a trivial pursuit as to list what one had for breakfast, what the weather was like, or how much it costs to purchase necessary groceries for the week? Who cares about this kind of detail when we’re all living it…
I know. I haven’t been posting lately. Stress levels are high and I tend to shut down during those times. I’ve been swamped with Cub Scout stuff lately. Not as insane as this time last year when the wildfires tossed everything up in the air, but almost. This is DS’s final year in the pack…
I now have less than a week to finish and submit this short story. EEEEEEK! Where the heck did September go? I’ve been up against multiple deadlines this month and I’d hoped to have this story finished well before now. However, that’s definitely not the way it has worked. The characters have been not cagey,…
No, I’m not talking about the black and white robes nuns wear and not riding habits either. I’m thinking about how we establish routines, even if we’re breaking a good habit by allowing a bad routines to creep in. It’s been claimed that it takes 21 days to build a new habit. It certainly doesn’t…
Last week was insane, this week is crazy. I’m not intentionally maintaining any sort of radio silence. I’ve been taking stuff in lately, and not doing much on the putting stuff out front. I’m still slaving away on the short story I’ve been working on and this morning the words came a bit easier than…
Tomorrow’s the big day. DD’s first day of middle school and DS’s first day as a BMOC — yah, he’s a fifth grader. Today’s kinda crazy rushing around trying to get everything finished and together for tomorrow. I really didn’t like the alarm going off at 6am in preparation for this momentous occasion. We’re also…
I’ve been fascinated with Gunter’s Tea Shop lately. It now figures prominently in two of my stories. Located in Berkeley Square, it capitalized on the fashionable pastime of gentlemen taking ladies for rides in their carriages and provided one of the few places they could stop to socialize without risk to reputation. Besides, who doesn’t…
One of the fun things about writing historicals is you have to learn all this really cool trivia. You need to be able to set the stage and do it in a believable manner. This includes how to properly dress your characters. And every sharp-dressed man should wear a cravat. Contemporary heroes have life easy….
Another author on Romance Divas was having problems with her hero. Someone suggested calling him Hubert until he gave in and whispered his true name in her ear. Apparently the name didn’t get to him as much as giving him a hobby like woodworking. She finally learned his name was Ethan and he sailed. Going…