The tug of commitment to work, family, and future goals is relentless. We set boundaries or rules for ourselves to protect our writing time, but still watch that time fritter away when other tasks pop up that demand, or distract, our attention. Here are five strategies to keep your writing time intact. Change Your Mindset One of the greatest things we can do as writers is value our desire, and sometimes need, to write. Sit quietly for fifteen minutes without … Read More »

Valentine’s Day has come and gone, its annual rites pointing us to the coming Spring, that glorious season when birds sing and bees hum, amorous glances are exchanged, and love and romance lilt delicately in the air. Wait a second. Let’s think about the word “romance.” As analytical writers consumed with the meanings of words, why do we call things about love romantic? Like most good stories, it’s an unusual, twisty tale. The secret is in the root of the … Read More »

I am an introvert. Yes, I love people, love social gatherings, and we entertain frequently. But being an introvert means that in order to recharge my energy, I seek out solitude and quiet; unlike extroverts, who recharge their energy reserves by being surrounded by people and activity. I am also a lone-wolf sort. I would rather work alone than with a group. I was that kid in school who hated group projects. I preferred do it all myself, so I … Read More »

“Great ideas fly through the universe all the time. Stand still long enough and one of them will hit you.” That was Isaac Asimov’s answer to the question of where he got his fantastic story ideas. At least that is what fellow science fiction writer Ben Bova said of Asimov, scientist and famed author of nearly 500 books, many in the genre of science fiction. Of course, the universe is rife with great ideas! But to catch a great idea, … Read More »

Books on writing often tell the author to find inspiration for stories in the world around her, in the everyday events of her own life. Read a juicy story on the net about a crime? There’s your next mystery! Got a friend who, widowed, rediscovers her high school sweetheart on Facebook and marries him before she goes in for cancer surgery? (I actually do.) The seed for a romance! But all the events of our lives take place today. What … Read More »

The beauty and heritage of the panhandle live in the heart of Ruth Coe Chambers and pour out as she builds the setting in her work. Growing up on the coast gave her memories and impressions she uses to create a true sense of place. Her novel, House on the Forgotten Coast, set in Apalachicola won First Place for Published Mainstream Fiction in the 2018 Royal Palm Literary Awards. Ruth discusses the importance of motivation, weaving a realistic setting, and … Read More »