There's a problem in Teen and Young Adult Fiction, and if you're a parent of a teen or an author who writes YA, you know what I'm talking about. The age group gravitating toward Young Adult fiction seems to get younger and younger every year. YA appeals to readers of many ages. I love it. … Continue reading The Rise of New Adult Fiction
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It’s Time
As some of you already know, I've been working on edits on The Fifth Circle. I've been kicking around the idea of self-publishing the book and recently considered querying agents. My publisher (for The Claiming Words) had a look at the book and expressed very mild interest, but I've decided for various reasons it might … Continue reading It’s Time
Shenanigans
Oh, it's been a week of shenanigans in the writing world. We've had plagiarism, temper tantrums, and retaliatory one-star ratings on books. When I first stumbled into the writing world with my unpublished, adverb-riddled manuscript in hand, I was struck by how generous and helpful most authors are. I've met authors who are willing to … Continue reading Shenanigans
What St Louis Weather Forecasts Can Teach Us About Writing
Once again, I find myself preparing for another apocalyptic weather event. My winter weather preparedness rituals are overblown and ridiculous, but I can't help it. My family moved to Georgia when I was ten, so I'm conditioned to react to the word "snowflake" much like those in areas with active volcanoes react to the word … Continue reading What St Louis Weather Forecasts Can Teach Us About Writing
Pitfalls of Perfection
Perfectionism is often a curse, especially when it comes to publication. The quest for perfection can prevent us from sending that query letter or hitting the publish button on Amazon. It can leave us trapped in a vicious cycle of edits and rewrites. We want our work to be the best it can be, but … Continue reading Pitfalls of Perfection
All I Have to Say 