My calendar is making a shift back to prioritizing writing time. At times, this is exciting; at times, it’s almost scary. There are seasons in life, and I’m embarking on a new one, with the inspiration of a sister-in-law home from college for the summer and beyond enthusiastic about researching the options she’ll have once […]

In writing or anything else, the first step in achieving a goal is setting realistic expectations. National Novel Writing Month expects 50,000 words. A half marathon expects 13.1 miles. These expectations are clear and measurable, and when taken on with the right mentality, achievable. (Or at least that’s what I’m told.)   When you ask […]

It’s often difficult to describe what it is, technically, that brings a manuscript to life. In early drafts, we try to use interesting verbs and unique adverbs to describe our characters’ actions and give them personality. We make comparisons to invoke all the reader’s senses and make a setting feel real. Yet in this, it’s […]