Art for novel #3: A sneak peak
Well, hello. Welcome back! You, sir or madam, follow my blog or my Twitter account or my Facebook page. Here’s my way of saying thank you! I am giving you a sneak peak of the very first drafts for the artwork […]
Have you smiled today? (It may make all the difference)
Ron Gutman is an expert on an unusual subject: smiling. In his research, he found that people who smile (wide and often) are significantly more successful and tend to live longer, healthier lives than those who do not. Smiling […]
IKEA: Ending Relationships One Bed Frame at a Time
Before you read: Let me make it clear that our relationship did not crumble and die due to assembling IKEA furniture. It was stretched a bit, and probably made stronger because of our recent experience with the IKEA Brimnes bed […]
What’s in a Name? (A Guest Blog Post by Stephen Swartz)
Allow me to introduce author and guest blogger Stephen Swartz. Swartz is a novelist turned English professor turned novelist who, after living in many different places around the world, now makes his home in Oklahoma City. His writing usually features […]
If This 19-Year Old Can, So Can You
Sometimes, my inspiration well is feeling a little dry. During times like that, I turn to people with incredible stories and ideas, like Boyan Slat. Boyan Slat is a 19 year old Dutch youth, winner of “Best Technical Design 2012” […]
5 Essential Editing Tips
I promised a set of editing tips in my last blog, and now here they (finally) are! But first, an update: I spent the last few weeks (yes, over the holidays. A writer never rests!) picking apart my 146,000 word […]
Killing Your Darlings
The editing process is one of the most painful parts of being a writer. You’ve labored for months (or years) writing your manuscript; you’ve developed characters and subplots; you’ve become attached to certain metaphors and phrases. Now, it’s time to […]
Folding Rejection into Cranes
Last week, I received my first ever rejection letter from a prospective agent. For many writers, receiving rejections is depressing, sobering, and something you keep quietly to yourself. I decided to tell the interwebs… Rejection is a big part of […]
Dobby the Dog Comes to America (My Debut Children’s Book?)
My mom says this would make a good children’s story. What do you think? Does it have potential? (Let me know in a comment!) Dobby’s first week in the U.S. Meet Dobby. Dobby is from a small island in the […]
On Ben Cooper and Beginnings
My week is bookended by two weddings. Two beginnings. Two profoundly meaningful days for two sets of couples. And for me? My own profound day fell right in the middle. Yesterday, I had the privilege to finally meet the inspiration […]