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
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?
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.
Strategic Revision—Be Ruthless
We all get attached to our words, our characters, our scenes. But a piece is often better served when we can be ruthless.
A Whole Novel Evaluation
In August I’ll attend my first ever Whole Novel Workshop at Highlights. I’m submitting my middle grade novel, No Dogs Die in This Book, the story that landed me an agent two years ago.
Feedback from Beta Readers
After I finished revising my MG zoo mystery based on feedback from a book coach in training, I sought out beta readers—people who aren’t professional editors or book coaches but who are smart readers.
Reading Aloud as a Revision Strategy
I’d never considered reading a whole novel aloud. I mean, how long would that take? I’m a fast silent reader, not speed reader fast, but fast enough to miss things.
Voice and Narration, Part 2: Philip Pullman’s Brilliant Use of Third-Person Omniscient
How do writers choose whether to write in first person or third person? From one character’s point of view or multiple characters’ POV? And what are the trade-offs? These are the kinds of things I think about with my own work and the kinds of things I discuss with my book coaching clients.
Voice and Narration, Part 1: First-Person Omniscient
In this post, I want to talk about one of the fancier options—omniscient narration. Kelly Barnhill’s middle grade novel, The Ogress and the Orphans (Algonquin Young Readers, 2022), is like a class in both voice and omniscient narration.
Revising a Novel—Where Do You Start?
Revising a novel can’t be as hard as drafting one, can it? [cue evil laughter] If you are lucky enough to have someone provide specific, actionable feedback about what is and isn’t working with your draft, then you have a huge head start toward revising.
A True Wolf Story
At first, I saw a blur of motion, but then time seemed to slow down. I saw three large canine heads, teeth snapping at Chip.