I love fish out of water stories. It probably started when I read a Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court back in elementary school. Time travel, some romance, medieval courts…who wouldn’t fall in love with that story! But since I’ve … Continue reading Favorite tropes

We’ve all heard phrases like “think out of the box” and “taking it to the next level” but actually achieving this task can be Herculean. There’s nothing like someone demanding creativity on the spot to make your creative juices pucker … Continue reading Pushing past the boundaries

I’m a touch anal retentive. I like rules. In fact, it’s how I make my living. I like knowing what’s going to happen so I plan things out, even for contingencies that won’t likely happen. I’m very well prepared for … Continue reading Schedules: Good, Bad, Ugly

“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at the typewriter and bleed.” ~~Ernest Hemingway. I always wonder if the truly great writers struggle to put words on paper, or if it’s just such a natural part … Continue reading The Writing Process

I went to a liberal arts college, a place that’s supposedly deeply connected to the humanities. In my freshman lit class, we read Beowulf and were asked to re-write the story as part of a final exam. Imagine that! The … Continue reading Being a good critique partner/beta reader

I started a new job in June. As a contractor, I do that a lot. New clients. New people to learn about and work with. New stress. The newness of a job is mostly old hat these days. It’s a … Continue reading New jobs are like a new book

One of the questions a writer hears most often is, “Where do you get your ideas?”  The easy answer is: Where don’t I get my ideas? The news, an overheard conversation, an article in a magazine, a dream, a friend…or … Continue reading Why Are You the Way You Are?

Trigger warning: This post contains disturbing content about query letter writing suitable for mature audiences only. Thick skin is recommended before reading. Query letters. Ugh. I think the second part of that response is automatic for most writers. The very … Continue reading Query Me This

The final installment of the Mastered by Degrees trilogy will soon be available. Fulfillment is the culmination of Bree’s story, her exploration of a world unknown to her but one that has revealed secret desires and not so secret truths. … Continue reading New Release!

When I started writing many years ago, I didn’t show my work to anyone. I barely told anyone I was writing much less that I wanted to be published. I’d had enough experience with the laughs and finger-pointing to know … Continue reading Query Trenches