When Plot Twists Go Bad (A DisConIII Panel)

In December of 2021, I had the opportunity to attend DisConIII. Here are my other DisCon posts. The panelists for … More

Manuscripts Need Breathing Room

After I finish a rough draft – I find my manuscript needs to breathe before I can move on.

Here are the things I like to fix before sharing — and why it needs to rest.

5 Ways Stronger Verbs Can Improve Your Writing

recommending getting rid of your adverbs. So, let’s do a quick grammar refresher and see exactly how to do this for your writing.

When An Idea Breaks Your Manuscript – 4 Ways To Fix It

I am a huge fan of serendipity. That moment when you realize something about your world or your character or … More

Commas: The Joy and Bane of Writers

If you ask one-hundred writers the proper use of commas, you’ll likely get one-hundred-and one (or more) answers. The grammar rules might not have changed much, but the editorial preferences sure have.

Now, this post may get a bit more grammatically technical than usual, but I hope you’ll hang in for the ride.

How to Self-Edit That Lousy First Draft

Welcome to Part 9 of my Virtual Balticon panel writeup. The painful panel description was as follows: Panelists will discuss they’re … More

Making Painful Edits

Welcome to Part 7 of my Virtual Balticon panel writeup. It’s hard to cut out scenes or characters that you love, … More

Choices To Make With Beta-Readers

When you’re ready for beta-readers, you’ve got several choices to make.

Here are the things to think about and how I’ve decided to handle it — this time around, at least.

Top 11 Ways NOT To Respond When Getting Feedback

There are writers who take feedback well, but there are plenty who don’t. Try not to make these mistakes.