Becca Syme’s book helped me know what I knew and to do it. For the last month I have studied Becca Syme’s seminal book Dear Writer, You Need to Quit. This book is now on my tight little shelf with the other essential works for writers I keep at my desk. Each chapter showed me–and in many cases confirmed for me–what I needed to quit in my writing life. This book is not about whether or not one should quit writing (though it opens the reader to that option). It is more of a list… Read Article →
Posts Tagged: writing
The USA celebrates the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence from British rule every 4th of July. Independence Day is a time to remember what it means to be free of tyranny. It’s also a time for grilling out, drinking beer, and booming fireworks that terrify the dog. This Independence Day I took a moment to quietly reflect on something else: my freedom as a writer. We writers have the opportunity and the responsibility to share with the world our thoughts, dreams, and ideas. We have the freedom (right now) to express ourselves, to follow… Read Article →
I go through phases of obsessive compulsive tidiness. A funk hits me that insists my creativity and productivity would benefit from straightening up my desk and dusting the room. Mostly I keep my office and workspace organized. Mostly. But, when unopened mail piles up, no more bank statements fit in the filing cabinet, and things three months on my desk still await a true home (the trash) I get to work organizing. Organization brings a sense of accomplishment. I look at the results and go, “Well now, isn’t that better? I’ve exposed at least one… Read Article →
Whiskey (or whisky) improves with a bit of age. Be it bourbon, scotch, American, Irish, or Japanese whiskey, they all improve with some time. If you open a bottle of whiskey and pour a dram straight off, you may not like it. Cork the bottle and give it a week or so, the new air will let the lovely breathe. Then try again. You’ll be surprised when what you dismissed first off as shite is now mellow, smooth, heavenly sipping. Air your first draft the same way. With fresh eyes, dig in and start editing…. Read Article →
Yes! With a Slight Correction Pikes Peak Writers is an organization nearly thirty years old. Since its inception PPW has served writers through education, networking, and promotion. The organization posts a regular author promotional called Sweet Success, highlighting recent publications or events in the lives of member authors. I love PPW. It’s my author home. Well, the latest Sweet Success featured me and my quirky novella A Night to Remember, which came out in paperback last month and scored really high in several genre categories on Amazon.com. My thanks to you, my friends and readers…. Read Article →
Today I did something for the first time. I drove a particular back mountain road from start to finish. I’ve driven past the entrance to this road hundreds of times in my dozen years in Colorado. Today I took the family and we drove it. We saw views we’d never seen, stopped at a historic marker commemorating those from the Civilian Conservation Corps who built the road back in 1938, and gained a new perspective on the natural beauty surrounding us. Doing something for the first time can be scary, exciting, rewarding, or possibly disappointing…. Read Article →
Life throws opportunities at us every day and it’s our job to recognize them and take advantage. Not in a greedy, selfish way, but in a this-may-never-happen-again sort of way. Today, I got to shake hands and trade stories with NYT best selling author and creator of the Walt Longmire series, Craig Johnson. Now, Craig and I talked for all of sixty seconds, but I got a photo op and managed to tell him A) thank you for coming to Colorado and B) that Pikes Peak Writers Conference (my home con) has long sought him… Read Article →