Welcome to My Blog/Newsletter
Why subscribe?
To read about another writer’s journey through writing, revising, querying, and learning
To see photos of my dogs 😉
To read about specific craft issues from the point of view of a book coach/experienced writer who wants to help other writers improve their craft
Why Write This Book?
How old were you the first time you tried to write a novel?
I was 8 or 9. That Christmas my grandma gave me a copy of Little House on the Prairie. I was a regular watcher of the 1970s TV show, but until that gift, I didn’t know the show was based on a book.
How I Almost Blew up This Opportunity with an Agent
Do you get emotionally attached to your novels in progress?
I Have an Agent!
Or rather, I have a new agent, Mary Cummings with Great River Literary.
This came as a surprise.
Goals, Expectations, a Podcast Episode, and a Free Webinar
New year, new goals?
Setting goals for my writing is fairly straightforward for me, but for my book coaching business, not so much. As a result, I’ve been looking into ways to do better, think more strategically, plan, and then execute.
Books I Enjoyed and Learned from in 2024
2024 has been a banner year for me in terms of the number of books I read—150+. I pored over my 2024 list of books and picked several that I enjoyed from a writer’s perspective. My list includes books for middle grade, young adult, and adult readers.
Stats on Querying Agents for 2 Middle Grade Novels in 2024
Two weeks ago I started querying literary agents about my middle grade dog novel, which I’ve been revising since attending Highlights’ Whole Novel Workshop in August.
I chose 5 agents who are very experienced and seem like they’d be interested in this story. I want an agent with great connections, who communicates well, and who understands marketing.
What Are You Holding Onto …
What story elements are you holding onto that have served their purpose but which you can now let go of?
Why I Like to Ask Why
“Why” is one of the most powerful questions. We learned that as little kids when we drove our parents crazy asking why the grass is green instead of red, why we can’t see the Big Dipper during the daytime, and what happens when we die.
Asking “why” helps us learn and grow.
Learning why real people do the things they do helps us understand them better. That understanding helps us craft more believable, nuanced characters.
How a Smart Reader Can Help You Revise
For the last two months, I’ve been revising my MG novel, No Dogs Die in This Book, based on feedback from my Highlights faculty reader, Crystal Allen.
The changes I’m making are not massive or structural. I’m not changing the point of view character, for example, or the plot.
The biggest change is to one of the secondary characters, an old dog named Birdie, who’s modeled on my husband’s first German Shorthaired Pointer, Heidi. Birdie is a mentor to 4-year-old Chester, the English Setter who’s my main character.
How to Solve Story Problems All by Yourself
If you’re the kind of novelist who likes to do as much on your own as you can before seeking help, Interview for Insight is for you.
It’s everything you need to get your characters to spill their secrets and reveal their world.
How?
By conversing with your characters outside of your story.