I’ve been looking for something to give me that Bitch, OK! feeling. My plan is to write during the week, and plot/revise/layer on the weekends. And it works. I think it works really well for me. But it doesn’t make it any easier to just sit down and do it. In a purely whimsical way, I present these to you: Magic Bean Wishes Plant these bean seeds and watch them magically rise up from the soil with an inspirational message stamped on each bean. Grow indoors or out. Includes 15 assorted beans with messages such as “faith,” “love,” “heal” and more. I kind of reallyRead More →

Those Rules, the capital R ones, can stifle a young writer (and by young I mean novice).  You can spend so much time on your first draft making sure that you don’t overuse adverbs, use correct grammar, don’t head hop, include enough description–augh, the list is endless.  You can spend so much time following all of those Rules that you don’t give yourself permission to write badly.  But I promise you this, if you don’t let yourself just freaking write, you will never find your voice. Let your characters say what they need to say.  Infodump if you have to.  That’s right.  I went there. Read More →

So I’m watching movies considered to be some of the most romantic movies for many decades. I’ve watched Gone With the Wind and An Affair to Remember more times than I’ve changed my clothes, almost, so I wanted to start with something new (to me). This is, technically, research for a character, who would’ve been watching these movies at a certain point in her life. But, I thought, if I’m watching some of the best romances ever, why not examine the GMC? Maybe I’ll learn something. Movie: Sabrina Hero: Linus Cold-blooded corporate raider GOAL MOTIVATION CONFLICT Internal To be compensated for the life his brotherRead More →

This is not the sort of post you want someone reading over your shoulder, so I’m going to slip a fold in here.  You click it when you’ve got a few minutes of alone time.Read More →

I mentioned on Saturday that the house planning book I bought didn’t live up to my expectations.  Here’s hoping this will: Home Quick Planner: Reusable, Peel & Stick Furniture & Architectural Symbols The Home Quick Planner includes 700 precut, reusable peel-and-stick, 1/4-inch scale furniture and architectural symbols, plus a 5,600 square-foot floor plan grid to help you design your own building, remodeling and decorating projects. (Also good for moving.) Symbols include everything you need from tables, chairs, couches, beds and pianos to every standard kitchen cabinet and appliance, an extensive assortment of bathroom fixtures and cabinets (for example, twelve sets of sink designs, six differentRead More →

But, I do believe in accountability. So I’m going searching for a widget. (I’m writing this Saturday–it may be in place by the time you read this.) And I’m holding myself accountable to you, my very dear and few readers. –-Me, Dec 10 The closest I could find was Twitter, which I will try to keep writing related, but I’m not making any promises.  Have a great day!Read More →

These picture posts are becoming commonplace.  Next thing you know, I’ll be uploading illustrations I’ve made in photoshop, like how to connect your printer. Yes, that was an awesome segue, thank you.  For Material Girl Monday, I’m going to talk to you about some of the tools I use to make my brand of magic.  So, picture the first: That’s my big comfy chair.  I’ve been alternately drawing and describing homes and writing character sketches (the big binder on the bottom, with the sheet protectors, the legal pad, the top notebook, and for good measure GMC) and line editing (another black binder and old reliable,Read More →

But I promised to discuss the work I’ve been doing on the new WIP and knowing the places in the work. I made a map of the town a month ago and it helped immensely. My heroine grew up in a house, moved into a house she called “the mausoleum” at eighteen when she got married, moved into a tiny apartment at 18 when she got divorced, and finally ended up living above a dance studio in a three bedroom apartment she renovated. Important things happened to her–turning points in her life, if not the story–in these places. I need to see them. I triedRead More →

Bitch, Ok!  Just Say No. In my last writing post, I listed five ideas to write without sitting down and staring at that damned blinking cursor that smirks quietly at you from the top of the page.  However, those suggestions assumed you had extra time and / or money.  So the last five will focus on what you can do with a crazy life and making an average writer’s wage. (I also explained how I bastardized BICHOK into… Bitch, OK. I’m not proud of it.) Five More Ways Take a notebook and write a scene.  I don’t care about details or where they are or whoRead More →

I know, I suck.  Monday is dance day (not for me, for my daughter, although it’s proven inspirational, so yay!)–anyway, I’m late.  Sorry.  Really. Here’s what I want.  I think it describes the writing process perfectly.  And, I drink coffee, especially when I’m writing, like I breathe air.Read More →