I’m the Master of My Procrastination

Scarlett O’Hara is famous for saying, “I’ll think about that tomorrow.” Can procrastination be a good thing? Dr. Diana Stout thinks it can be. Welcome to my blog, Dr. D. Thank you, so much Elizabeth, for inviting me to share what I’ve learned and am practicing. So, without any further procrastination let me proclaim that I’m the Master of My Procrastination! Once upon a time… as all the best stories begin, I was a solid procrastinator. But on this day, I was practicing procrastination purposefully. It was January 6, 2014, with two feet of snow outside and artic temperatures that Read More

Karen White Talks about “Grit Lit” and Ghosts

A friend recommended The House on Tradd Street to me because it reminded her of The Cavanaugh House. I read it and became an instant fan of author Karen White. Today, I am thrilled to welcome Karen to my blog. I had so many questions for her, and she graciously answered them all. How does the first seed of a story idea come to you? Does it vary from book to book? Every book is different.  And every book has multiple seeds from multiple sources.  It’s a miracle when they all come together.  Ideas come from the news, both past 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

Getting Inside an Editor’s Brain: An Interview with Julie Sturgeon

Every author wonders what editors think. When our precious baby lands in the hands of an editor, what happens? I’ve worked with Julie Sturgeon, and I can say what happens is magic. Julie agreed to give us a peek behind the curtain in her editing process. I am so pleased to share her insights with you. Welcome, Julie. I’m always flattered when someone asks me to be a guest on their blog, and I do a happy dance when they provide questions. That list is an excellent way to figure out what people want to know—and where misconceptions are lurking Read More