Blog
As a curious observer of life, I blog on writing, marketing, my prairie - anything that interests me in the moment. I like to have conversations with readers, so don’t hesitate to leave a comment. I'll respond.
My new novel, Simple Truth, launches today, and gratitude tops the list of emotions I’m feeling as I celebrate bringing my third book to readers. A writer doesn’t travel the often rocky road to publication…
World War One-era historical fiction on track for July launch. It’s been a long journey writing my first novel – somewhere in the four to five-year range – but I’m excited to tell you the…
Software helps find repetition. Kayla Curry shared software to help writers find what I’ve called “crutch” words and what Sharla Rae calls “echo” words. Here’s the start and link to her post. How to tell…
Many indie authors choose not to shell out for an editor. But the right relationship can make writing soar. Not the tiniest piece of crap eluded her. She invariably landed squarely on what was wrong…
The editing, one’s own editing, before the editor sees it, is the most important – Dr. Maya Angelou Maya Angelou‘s quote resonated with me when I first read it. But I didn’t really get her…
I love my beta readers. Every last one. And I love their honest reactions. You’ll never get me to say anything else. At least not on the record. My WWI-era novel has had the benefit…
Since my granddaughters were born, I’ve taken them to the prairie every time they visit us. As little ones, they were carried in. As they grew older, I led the way. On her last…
Recently, I blogged about finding and eliminating “crutch” words in my writing. Sharla Rae calls these “Echo” words. In her blog post today at Writers In The Storm, she lists the most common Echo words…
I’m deep into editing my novel this month. Searching for the best words to create people and places readers will see and remember. Eliminating cliches. Working for copy that is fresh and tight. In the…
The editing task in front of me is daunting. The average novel runs about 350 pages and 85,000 words. The first draft of my manuscript weighed in at a scale-busting 130,000 words. Even though there…