A Three-Part Series Covering How to Get the Most Out of a Writers Conference Part 2: Be Friendly A writers conference is a magical time. Writers from different locations and backgrounds, all with the imagination, dream, and drive to put their tales to paper (or digits) gather together to drink too much coffee and talk shop. And yet, far too many attend a conference (often at sizable expense) without the faintest idea how to truly get their money’s–and effort’s–worth. Over three installments I will give you a cursory look at what you should do to… Read Article →
Posts Tagged: writing life
A Three-Part Series Covering How to Get the Most Out of a Writers Conference Part 1: Be Prepared I love attending a writers conference. There is a vibe unique and powerful when so many creative souls are gathered together united by a singular event. And yet, far too many attend a conference (often at sizable expense) without the faintest idea how to truly get their money’s–and effort’s–worth. Over three installments I will give you a cursory look at what you should do to maximize a conference experience. In this first part we will look at… Read Article →
My first novel will step forth into the world on April 18, 2023. Exceptionals has been a labor of love nearly four years in the making. From short story to novel, it has seen critique group feedback, beta reader comments, and edits galore. However, as I’ve just discovered, when it comes to honing the fine, knife’s edge of a finished novel, the power is in the proof. Proof copies are the first drafts of the published novel. They are the initial look at how the cover design fits on the selected format. Mine, for example,… Read Article →
Yes, this week’s blog is a bit late and there is no excuse for tardiness. I’ve tried teaching that to my 11-year-old, but the lesson sticks about as well as olive oil on teflon. Anyway, this week I want to talk about two books: mine and one by Steven Pressfield. If you read last week’s blog, you know I dove into a deep rewrite on my work in progress (what we in the business call a WiP [by the business I mean writers with delusions of grandeur]). It has proved a most rewarding endeavor. The… Read Article →
Registration is open Hello Fellow Writers! It’s registration time for Pikes Peak Writers Conference – “Wordstock ’23: 3 Days of Peace, Love & Writing!” Join me there for my workshop And…ACTION! Fighting and Fight Scenes 101 and see me on stage as the conference emcee. The crew putting this together are second to none. Check out all the info below. Links embedded to help you navigate our conference website and registration. Keynotes: We are thrilled to have amazing keynotes this year! And equally thrilled to announce our Featured Author is USA Today Bestseller Siera London. For more information about… Read Article →
When to do it Yourself and When to Call in an Expert Each of us has strengths, talents, resources, and motivations. We each look to our day and weigh the priorities and assess our capabilities in addressing what the day requires. In that assessment, we must consider time vs. money–whether we want to tackle each task or whether we should handoff a project to someone else. Many of us are do-it-yourselfers. We’ll give up a weekend or a week to fix the problem or complete the project. Motivations in this realm range from the satisfaction… Read Article →
It Matters Which Chair You Park In Coffee shops. Pubs. Libraries. Writers sitting in the shadowy corners of public places, jotting down future classics is so iconic the image has become a trope. From a boozy Ernest Hemingway hanging out at Sloppy Joes in Key West to an impoverished JK Rowling finishing the first Harry Potter in a café, stories abound of locations tied to literary legends. These images are part of the writing life’s allure. Gone from the consciousness (hopefully) is the heavy smoker slaving over a dimly it typewriter. Yet, the idea of… Read Article →