In the writing game, sentences are our baseballs. Although not every sentence is a home run, isn’t our goal to hit at least one out of the park? Moving sentences like that requires aim and power. “The sentence is where we must start if we hope to understand why some writing captivates us and other writing leaves us unmoved.” This sound advice is from University of Iowa Professor Dr. Brooks Landon. Just as home runs move fans to stand up … Read More »

February is the month of love – Valentine’s Day and all. I overheard a mother telling me she had to deliver valentines for the entire class at her daughter’s school. That got me to thinking about my own school days and the fact that we didn’t give valentines to everyone. It was a life lesson in anticipation, expectation, and disappointment. The grown-up emotions associated with those days (who knew?) inevitably found a way into my writing. Reciprocated? Oh, the joy! … Read More »

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 »