My Blog
5 Reasons You Should Be Writing Short Stories
Did I mention I’m editing the next Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers anthology, to be published in 2020? You can find more info here—and, if you’re a member, submissions will open May 1st! In preparation for this, I’ve been thinking a lot about short fiction. I started...
Important Life Update
After a short hiatus, I'm back in the blogosphere with sad news: Our beloved dog Winnie passed away in February at age 15. We miss her dearly. But we have a new member of the family to cheer us up. Meet Dougal, the goofiest, wrinkliest, slobberiest Basset...
My Year in Books: Dragon December
As you may have guessed by now, fantasy is my favorite genre, and fantasy animals are the best animals (except Winnie, of course). In homage to one of my favorite mythical creatures, I read books with dragons on the cover or in the title. It was a fire-breathing good...
How to Pull Off a One-Day Writing Retreat
Last November, I participated in NaNoWriMo with the goal of finishing the first draft of my next novel. I had a disadvantage, though, because I had family visiting for a week at the end of November. Unsure if three weeks would be enough to finish my draft, I decided...
Self-Care for Writers
Writing may not be the most physically demanding job, but over time it can take a serious toll. Envisioning settings, brainstorming dialogue, and feeling our characters’ emotions are mentally exhausting—not to mention the wrist pain, eye strain, and screen-induced...
How to Write (Even When You’re Not Writing)
Happy National Novel Writing Month! If you're participating this year, best of luck. If not, you can still harness NaNoWriMo’s positive energy toward your current project. For instance, I’m trying to get through the first big round of revisions on my...