A teenager once wrote to me wanting to know something about me for a report. She fired off the usual litany of questions – what kind of pets do you have, where did you grow up, why do you like ketchup so much. But she included one that I couldn’t answer adequately. She asked, “What topics do you like to write about?” This question was difficult because the phrasing was such that it turned the whole process inside out. Read More...

A teenager once wrote to me wanting to know something about me for a report. She fired off the usual litany of questions – what…

Refine (ri fin) 1. to free or become free of impurities 2. to make or become more polished or elegant Read More...

Refine (ri fin) 1. to free or become free of impurities 2. to make or become more polished or elegant A huge part of a…

Before I begin, let me say that this blog post definitely falls under the category of, “Do as I say, not as I do.” Or better yet, learn from my mistakes. One of the things I struggle with the most is gaining momentum in my writing process. And once I have momentum, treating it like something precious and amazing. Writing consistently is essential to turning out great books, but many of us find that real life intrudes too often and too forcefully. Our writing time gets pushed aside by sick kiddos, pressing e-mails, and the zillion other demands made on our time. It’s almost like being a yo-yo dieter. We establish a writing schedule, we fall off the wagon. We renew our commitment, we get distracted. Sound familiar? Read More...

Before I begin, let me say that this blog post definitely falls under the category of, “Do as I say, not as I do.” Or…