Which came first? The chicken or the egg? As I am writing this post, I hear the faint “cheep, cheep†of a newly hatched chick—one of my son’s latest projects. So I can’t help but think about that old adage. Of course, as a Christian, I know the chicken came first because God created birds … More Hatching Our Ideas
Sometimes, no matter how many articles or stories you’ve written in the past, there comes a time when you don’t feel very inspired to write. You know you have to write something for a deadline, but you just don’t feel in the write mood (pun intended) to put pen to paper or fingers to the … More Inspire Me
Summer is gone. Fall is in full swing. Winter will soon be on our doorsteps. So now is the perfect time to practice some seasonal sensory exercises to stir your writing imagination.
When I was in elementary school, we were taught how to create an outline. I remember having to break things down using Roman Numerals, then capital letters, and so on. To be honest, I hated that type of work. What I thought were important facts and summations, my teachers thought otherwise. As a student who … More The Value of a Chapter-By-Chapter Outline
This past July I took a trip with my husband, our two daughters, and my mother to visit family in New Mexico. The drive was long (about 16 hours, including getting a nail out of our tire), but it was worth it to see relatives (on my mother’s side) who we haven’t seen in a … More When You Know It’s Time to Let Go
A few months ago, I was asked by a church staff member if I would be willing to participate in an afternoon get-together sometime in the summer where I could share about being a writer. The person who asked me coordinates our church’s homeschool support group, so I thought it would be for a small, … More When You’re Caught by Surprise
Last time I wrote about writing a plot summary within a short period of time for a potential fiction story opportunity. The good news is, the publisher accepted my pitch! The bad news is, the publisher accepted my pitch! Of course, this isn’t really bad news. It’s great news! But, the reality has set in … More Moving Forward Boldly
Recently, I was asked if I wanted to pitch a plot summary to a publisher for a potential fiction story for hi/lo readers. I had already written a short nonfiction book for them, but I wanted the chance to work on a fiction book, so I said I would be interested. The problem? I only … More No Time to Waste
Let’s face it. We live in a society where we spend a lot of time waiting. Whether you are at the dentist or doctor, visiting the department of motor vehicles, or getting new tires on the car, we often find ourselves sitting around waiting to be called or waiting for something to get done. Here … More Looking at the Benefits of Waiting
I was born with flat feet, the kind that leaves rectangular blobs instead of footprints in the sand. As a young child I had to wear special shoes with an orthopedic pad inside to help my arch. And, I remember that my feet would get so painful that my mother would have to rub and … More Don’t Let Your Writing Fall Flat