LET’S TALK ABOUT OPENINGS!!!! Tomorrow the Line by Line contest opens where we’ll see just how strong and/or hooky one line can be on its own. If you’re just hearing about it, check it out HERE and HERE to be 100% good to go when it opens at 10am tomorrow. One of the reasons I love L by L contests is they make you think about the impact of each sentence…which can force you consider each word. If ever there’s a place in {Read More}
Line by Line – Schedule & Giveaways!
March 19, 2017 by 2 Comments
This year it’s quick and dirty. No long rounds. Everything happens in 24-hour increments. Can you handle it? CAN YOU HANDLE THE TRUTH???? *cof* Excuse me. But what about readers, bloggers, and other voters? What do they get? Well, I’m glad you asked. Every round, I’ll be giving out Amazon Gift Cards to commenting voters — and I’m working on getting some ebooks also 😉 Here’s the timeframes, get ready to rev it! ROUND ONE TUES 3/21, 10am EST– ENTRIES {Read More}
Line by Line Contest
March 18, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Hi guys! I LOVE Line by Line contests. I entered one way back in the day and it changed how I write my first pages. I also think it’s why Secret Girlfriend got me an agent in a week of submitting. Those opening pages were ready to go as I applied everything I learned to the rest. So, what is a LbL? We start with the entries (and, yes, I’ll be limiting them to the first 50 bc last time was {Read More}
WRECKLESS – Audio!!!
March 4, 2017 by Leave a Comment
I am so stinking excited to let you guys know that in late Spring WRECKLESS will be out in audio. Beyond “Will Wreckless every be a movie?” and “Is there a sequel?” this is the most asked question. (Answers: Not unless you know someone. Who knows, maybe? and now YES! Late Spring!) I’m thrilled with the sample I’ve heard and can’t wait to get the rest! A small group of my peeps heard it as well (to make sure {Read More}
2017 AuthorLife Planner
November 17, 2016 by Leave a Comment
I am so thrilled to announce that the 2017 AuthorLife Planner is live! The planner was a surprisingly large project, scoping out the workshop, boiling it down, creating a stream of reference that works on paper only, then creating a planner that keeps those findings on track. BUT, I’m so happy I did it. I’m already getting some amazing feedback and really hoping that writers and other creative folks are able to find their BEST PATH and stay with it {Read More}
POV Lens: NATIVE
September 20, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Welcome back! We’re talking about the lenses within the POV lens that Jeannie Lin and I teach in our Worldbuilding workshop. This is post #2, so just a quick catch up, the premise: REMINDER: This is a super-general, high-level view 😉 Native is by far the most straight forward of the sub-lenses, although, of course, there are exceptions. If you think of one, share it in the comments – people LOVE exceptions. But let’s also remember the old saying {Read More}
POV and Lens
September 19, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Jeannie Lin and I recently gave our workshop “Worldbuilding for the Non-SFF Writer” and had a request to write another Lonely Owl book about it….soooooo, since we just finished a book and we both have a ton of our own fiction work to concentrate on, how about a few blog posts instead? I’m not going to dive into the entire premise because this is probably our most layered workshop and it would probably bore the snot out of you on {Read More}
For New Authors About Town
September 19, 2016 by Leave a Comment
I haven’t done a writing post in a long time. I’ve basically just focused on my own writing and my readers. But, after going to several author events over the last two seasons, I wanted to throw this out there. What are you reading RIGHT NOW? Oh, you’re not reading? Nothing? Why not? Reading is the number one way to know what’s hot in your genre, what works for you, what doesn’t work for you, what’s selling, an opportunity to {Read More}
It’s Live!: FINDING YOUR VOICE
July 25, 2016 by Leave a Comment
We’ve been talking about it for a year and now it’s here! Voice. That It Factor. The Holy Grail. Every writer has one. Every writer knows what it is, but not everyone can put their finger on how to develop it. Join Jeannie Lin and Bria Quinlan, two award-winning, best-selling authors, as they chase down this elusive element. This book discusses the hierarchy of developing a professional voice as well as concrete tips and techniques for discovering and {Read More}