Recommendations

Top Ten Tuesday With a Lovely Yellow Hue

Top Ten Tuesdays started in 2010 on The Broke and the Bookish  and moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. Make fun lists about literary things using the topics provided, or go rogue and make up your own. Basically, if you’re a bookworm, come booknerd with us! My favorite color is yellow. It’s the color of sunshine, hope, happiness. It’s an energetic color and it makes me feel positive. Also, I’m pretty laid back, really value loyalty, and live for sweet buttery…

11
Read More

How to Survive the Querying Process; Or, Being a Stubborn Ball of Rock

Grit For this post we want the grit that means courage and resolve, or strength of character. The definition that is synonymous with bravery, pluck, mettle, backbone, strength of will, steel, nerve, fortitude, toughness, determination, and tenacity. All of that sounds . . . well, amazing. MUCH better than refreshing your inbox for the sixth time in five minutes and then curling into a ball, rocking and staring, because the refresh only brought you another rejection. (Not that I’ve done…

2
Read More

The Social Media Beast Requires Regular Feeding

In this day and age we authors have to put ourselves out there, hanging weightless in cyberspace with multiple tentacles dangling into the ether. We need a “platform”. We’ve got to have an “online presence”. It’s necessary to “network”. Because this day and age is “cruel”. No? Just me thinking that? Anyways. *nervous cough* There are websites, blogs, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, podcasts, all asking for online participation. There are writer’s associations, critique groups, pitch fests, conferences, panels, needing your physical…

4
Read More

Learn to Write Well by . . . Watching Movies?

Wait, what? Did I seriously just tell you to sit down and waste time watching a form of media that has nothing to do with meeting your word count goals? . . . yes. With some caveats. I don’t mean “watch a movie every day” or “ignore your writing to watch your favorite film” or “binge that Netflix show ’cause some random writing advice on the Internet said to”. Don’t do that. Media responsibly, and etc. etc. No, what I…

2
Read More

Add Pre-Writing the Query Copy to Your Author Toolbox

I accept the concept of a muse wholeheartedly. However old-fashioned it might be, it’s a theory I like. My muse, however, does not resemble a lovely Greek statue. My muse is more like a kaleidoscope of butterflies, constantly circling my head. Only these delicate beauties carry ten pound cannonballs, which they like to release on me at random times. Me: *trying to get to sleep* My muse: WHAM!! *drops cannonball* My muse: This would make a good story. Me *buries…

23
Read More

Books Reward the Bookworm

It’s the first Wednesday of the month and that means it’s time for the monthly blood & ink sacrifice to the shade of William Shakespeare! #authorlife #amwriting Haha, wait. *Double checks calendar* No, it’s Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Sorry. We sacrifice on Saturdays. The Insecure Writer’s Support Group is all about being real with your struggles and insecurities, without fear or worry. Unburden and know that your online support group is here. We post on the first Wednesday of…

7
Read More

Plotting, for Pantsers

Welcome to the 2018 #AuthorToolboxBlogHop and my first post for the hop! Come join in and post useful, helpful or interesting things for other authors. This blog hop is the brainchild of Raimey Gallant and you can sign up on her website. By inclination I’m a Pantser (Pantsers, Pantsers, Oi, Oi, Oi!) (That’s our motto) (I just made it up) I’ve read online about plotters who get their entire book, down to each and every scene, outlined to within an inch of…

33
Read More

When I’m a Millionaire, I’m Going to Spend it ALL On Books

Time for some more new-to-me authors and a few bite sized reviews. If I ever win some sort of lottery, the money will go towards books, shelves to hold the books, more books, and if I have enough, a book barn. Like a literal barn, stuffed full of literature. Writers must read, and read a lot. Stephen King says so. I’m going to take him at his word, because something is obviously working for him and I just really love…

0
Read More