You trust your writer’s instincts. But are they always right? When I first started writing Loreena’s Gift, I remember calling my mom up in a panic. After exchanging the usual pleasantries, she asked me how the book was going. “Mom, she’s blind!” I burst out. “My main character. She’s blind!Continue Reading
According to PBS, Herman Melville first thought of the idea for what would become Moby Dick after reading a 1839 article by Jeremiah N. Renolds entitled “Mocha Dick: Or, the White Whale of the Pacific.” For years he researched and thought about the story. It wasn’t completed and published untilContinue Reading
Setting goals. You either love it or hate it. But most likely, if you’re a writer, you’ve done it at least a time or two. “I’m going to publish a novel.” Even if you’re not a goal-setter, it’s likely you’ve made decisions like this that have moved your career forward,Continue Reading
You’ve probably heard the “experts” say that in order to get where you want to go, you first have to believe you deserve to get there. Diane Sawyer was quoted as saying: “Whatever you want in life, other people are going to want it too. Believe in yourself enough toContinue Reading
There’s a lot of talk about authenticity these days. “Be real,” they tell us. Show your true self. Be honest in your writing. Take away the masks. I’m all for being authentic. In fact, I have a hard time being any other way. When I was a teenager, it oftenContinue Reading
Who are your writing heroes? Can you name them—right now? Do you know who they are? Does it matter? I’ve asked a number of people these questions. I’ve been amazed by how many blank looks I’ve received. Maybe it’s because my writing heroes are so important to me—and I believe,Continue Reading
In writing critiques, writers hear a lot about their weaknesses. Critiques are a way of life for us. We’re always asking people what’s wrong with our work. We feel like we have to hear criticism in order to improve. This may be true to some extent, but the longer IContinue Reading
“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” ~Carl G. Jung Are you struggling to take a new path in your life? Is that little voice inside you urging you to try something new, but you have yet to take action? Be careful—you may have allContinue Reading
“There are many ways to kill off the true self,” writes former Presbyterian pastor Paul Rademacher. “My weapon of choice was the ministry.” A great book about personal discovery and finding one’s own inner voice, A Spiritual Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe by Rademacher tells the story of one man’sContinue Reading
My step dad just passed an important anniversary—a year ago, he went through a double knee replacement. I remember that day well. One of the things that struck me as particularly challenging was the near endless process of medical-record-taking, from the initial registration to the consistent stream of nurses andContinue Reading
I’ve received a lot of writing critiques over the years. I’ve come to believe that critiques are both a writer’s blessing and a curse. After so many, I think I’ve figured out how to sort through them in a way that makes them mostly beneficial, most of the time. ButContinue Reading
I hate morning people. Not literally, of course. In fact, as long as they don’t bother me, I don’t mind them at all. But every once in awhile, if I spend time with friends or family, I’m reminded how very violent I can get if people bother me in theContinue Reading