My Secret Strategies for Handling Edits

Okay, this post is going to be really short because I’m on deadline and my revisions are due back to my editor Julie Sturgeon by Saturday. Many readers ask me how I handle editing and revising my manuscripts. I have decided to reveal a few of my deepest secrets. Some of my editing strategies for The Last Crossing: 1. Set the timer on my iPhone for 30 minutes so I get up and move around. It’s good for my health and clears my mind. Plus, potty break. (amended: Pay attention when the timer goes off.)   2. Set my iPhone Read More

5 Things I Researched This Week

I fondly recall my naïve vision of a writer’s life before I was a writer. In that scenario, I’d sit by an open window with a summer breeze billowing the curtains. I would sip green tea while amazing stories magically flowed from my fingertips to my keyboard. My prolific gift would generate five to ten novels a year, each topping the New York Times bestseller list. Ah, fantasy. Often, writing is drilling down, grueling work. Often it requires me to stop the flow of magical stories to do a little research so my magical stories are credible. Here are five Read More

The Eyes Have It: Ironing Out My Revisions

You’ve heard of the term “leg man,” and many women seem to notice men’s butts. Yes, I’m being very sexist here, however, I believe I now have your interest, and my previous first paragraph (see below) was much less stimulating. Thesis: All authors have certain body parts that capture their attention. When I finished my first draft of Love’s Courage, the ecstasy of writing “The End” was quickly replaced with the agony of revision. Some people love revision, in fact, an author friend just posted that she preferred revision to drafting a new story. For me, revision is a bit Read More

5 Reasons Why Writers Need Support Groups

I’m basking in the glow of the Mid-Michigan Chapter of Romance Writers of America’s (MMRWA) annual Retreat from Harsh Reality. Our speaker this year was Katharine Ashe, author of historical romance novels. She was amazing! Once again, I realized the need for writers to spend time—quality time—with other writers. Here are only five reasons why:   Shared Excitement Over Writing Craft (or “The Writing-Geek Files”) I’ve been scratching my head over the term “high concept” since I first heard it a couple of years ago. Katharine’s presentation “What is High Concept (and How Do I Write It)” was the best Read More

“One Little Word” for Maui: Unencumbered

I’m the kind of person who carries my iPhone with me everywhere…yes, everywhere. On the rare occasion that I drive off leaving my device on the kitchen table, I feel an overwhelming anxiety, and I ask myself, “How did we live without our cell phones?’ Then I chastise myself for drinking the Kool-Aid of technology. We recently spent a week in Maui. #bucketlist I pledged that I would spend the week enjoying time with my husband, Rich, and the beauty of Hawaii and leave all else behind. Not easy to do when I am connected to technology via my computer, phone, Read More