I once wrote something pretty far out there. Actually, a lot more than once. One online reviewer found that particular tale entertaining but criticized its “supernatural” elements. That left me scratching my head. What supernatural elements? I had taken pains to explain the farfetched stuff with real-world underpinnings. Science, you know. Sure, I was asking the reader to suspend disbelief and enjoy the ride, but every little detail was possible within current scientific theory, if not practicability. So let me … Read More »

Grappling with trauma through writing is the hardest, but most rewarding thing any survivor can do. Whether they are processing the horrors of war, an abusive relationship or a devastating diagnosis, writers often employ coping mechanisms in their work to aid in searching for their own truth and inner peace. On February 13, the German people recognized the 75th anniversary of the Dresden firebombing, often obscured in the history books but undoubtedly one of the deadliest attacks of World War … Read More »

Are you writing a memoir? An autobiography? Do you know the difference between the two forms? In 2009, while my husband and I were on an overseas trip, I received a lesson in an outdoor classroom about the difference between autobiography and memoir. My teacher? A small brown snail. The snail lived in Indonesia, where, on the island of Bali, I met him when we stayed for two months in a traditional Balinese hotel in the town of Ubud. My husband was … Read More »

Picture books are a magical way to turn children into book lovers at an early age. While they may appear to be easy to write, there are actually many facets to making a quality picture book. They contain all the elements of adult literature—character development, plot, theme—but delivered in a compact form. If you are interested in writing children’s picture books, here are a few basics to help you get started. Word Count Getting the proper word count is important … Read More »

Whether it’s a 100 word picture book or a 100,000 word scholarly novel. To create a book that matters for any age reader—from 2 to 92—there are four things it must include. I call these the 4Hs of writing: heart, hurt, hope and humor. Let’s look at each one. Heart By heart I don’t mean sweetness or love. I mean a revealing and reveling in what it means to be human. Heart is the stripping away of artifice to see … Read More »

Conflict is the backbone of storytelling. Without it, a story is a lukewarm word puddle. And you don’t just need some of it, you need a lot to have a compelling tale. So what is conflict and how do we pile it into our narratives? Conflict is the struggle between opposing forces. It can be internal or external, and it’s important to have both in your stories. The key to increasing tension as your story progresses is to layer conflict. … Read More »