I'm Presenting at a Conference!

Author friends this is for you!

Do you want to grow your author business in 2024? I'm going to be one of several speakers at the Thriving Scribes Summit Jan. 22nd-24th where there will be online presentations on how to build your author brand, expand your readership, and streamline your process. It's FREE to attend and something you won't want to miss!

Get your free pass HERE

Accountability Post

Well, as you know, it's been a bit of slow going on my new book, Second Guess. I thought I was doing better and moving forward from some of the health problems I've had, but it's not going as fast as I would like. I did manage to edit two chapters, though, so I'm feeling pretty proud of that. I've never had linger health issues before so this is very new territory for me. I'm trying hard to be patient, but that is not my strong suit. Which is maybe why I've been going through this? To teach me patience? I wish I could learn faster . . . 

Every little step brings me one step closer to releasing this book, though, and that makes me happy! I am going to CELEBRATE when this book is released! I'll hope you'll be there with me, too.

Writing Accountability

 Well, I didn't get as much done as I thought I would this past week. Our air conditioning went out, and that sort of put a damper on my writing. Not that open windows and a lot of fans are bad, but it was just distracting! LOL I never realized how much room temperature affected my writing!

I did add a scene to the book and edit a chapter, but hopefully once we get our air conditioning situation figured out I can make better progress. I wish the air conditioner could have held out for just one more month, especially with all the hot weather, but I'm grateful for what we've gotten. 

Do you love air conditioning? Does room temperature affect your productivity at all? 

Writing Accountability

Here is my weekly accountability post for Second Guess. I'm so happy with how this is progressing. The edits are going well (I have 40 pages left!) and it's starting to feel like my old self. The ideas on how to fix little story issues are flowing and it feels like it did before I got sick. I honestly wondered if I would ever get to this point, so I'm thrilled that I did!

The kids are going back to school in a few weeks and that will help my editing immensely. Not too much longer and I'll be able to share this story with all of you! Yay! Thank you again for being so patient.

The Final Edit

 I have been so excited to FINALLY make this post!

As you all know, I nearly died in September of 2021. Healing took a lot longer than I thought it would, and truly getting back to writing took even longer. I've had Second Guess ready for its final edit for months and months, but I just couldn't do it. 

But I'm finally feeling strong enough to really do it! 

I'm nearly halfways through the edits now and feeling so good about this book. I'm going to keep you updated here and keep myself accountable at the same time.

Wish me luck on this! 

Look What I Did!

Well, look what I got to type on my manuscript! I feel like I have been revising this work-in-progress for FOREVER! And today I finally finished it!

This writer’s retreat has been amazing! I soaked up so much creative energy and the words flowed, but I also ate yummy food, laughed, and stayed up way too late with my incredibly talented writer friend Annette Lyon. I’m sad it’s over, just because I was able to focus and really get some uninterrupted writing time, but I’m going home refreshed and revitalized and ready to put on my mom hat.

I can't wait to share this new book with you all!

Writers Having Fun

I'm still at my writer's retreat. We've eaten so much yummy food, talked, walked, laughed, and written so many words. (So. Many!) And I can't wait to share more about my current work-in-progress.

This has been such a recharge for me and I'm so grateful. One strange thing about me that I was worried my fellow writers might think was weird is that when my kids were little, I could only sit at the computer and write for 30 minutes while their favorite kid show was on. So, even though I don't have to do that anymore, my brain has been trained to write in 30 minute increments and then I have to get up and do something else for a bit before I can sit down again. I know, it's a bit strange, but it works for me. And my writer friends didn't judge me at all! Yay!

Have you ever been worried your friends might think something you do is strange? Care to share?

I'm Going On A Writing Retreat!

I'm so excited to be going on a writing retreat this weekend! I have so many goals that I want to accomplish and having that precious time to do it in will be invaluable. I can't remember the last time I had truly dedicated writing time, so I'm really looking forward to this. And I'll be with fellow writers and absorb all that wonderful writing energy. (It will be tempting to just visit and not write, but I'm determined to be wise.)

 Of course my little boy is worried about who will tuck him in at night, which pricked my mama's heart, but I assured him his daddy would take over that special privilege.

So, hopefully, when I come back I will have some wonderful writing goals accomplished and something to announce very soon!

Do you ever go to retreats for a recharge or for your occupation? Were they productive?

Working Hard or Hardly Working?

Summer is such a tricky time for a writer mom. There's children at home that need a bit of structure so I don't hear, "Mom I'm bored," every thirty seconds. Then there's swim lessons and play dates, picnics and playground trips to make some fun summer memories. But in between, I need to get some work done.

Today we are at the pool and I brought my work along with me. I actually like writing long-hand and my creative juices really flow when I'm near water, so it's a win for everyone! (And this manuscript is really going a lot better than I expected.)

How do you balance kids in the summer with something you really need to get done?

I'm Presenting at a Writer's Conference!

I am thrilled to announce that I will be presenting two classes at the 2019 Kanab Writers Conference! I'll be spilling all the secrets to successful self-editing AND how to write great back cover copy. I'm so excited to be in this beautiful part of the world and the conference also includes a hike through red rock country with plenty of time to write in this beautiful setting.

If you'd like to learn more or register for the conference, you can see more information here

I've Realized My Writing Process is Weird

Most of you know that I'm a mother of eight children. In order to carve out time for writing with a lot of kids, I usually had to think through my scenes while I was changing diapers and washing dishes, then, when Barney or Paw Patrol came on, I would rush to the computer and write down everything I'd been thinking about. I had half-hour increments to get any writing done and it worked for a lot of years.

Fast forward to this year, when my youngest is in school all day and I have HOURS to write. I could write for six hours a day if I wanted to! I had big plans for this year and was going to be so super productive.

But, I've realized over the last two months when I was under some hard deadlines, that my writing process is super weird. I'll be sitting at my computer, typing away, but after half an hour, my brain just has to get up and go do some housework or something. I tried to work through it, but my brain has just been trained to stop working after half an hour!

My workaround is that I go ahead and take a break to do some household chores, put in laundry, sweep the floor, or whatever, and then go back to writing. Oddly, my brain just picks back up and I go on my merry writing way! And the upside of it is, I'm getting a lot of writing done AND my house is looking great!

I wonder if time goes on, that my brain will eventually be able to adjust and just write for longer than half an hour. I hope so! But until then, I'll just keep trying to balance this strange process.

Do you believe brains are trained in certain habits?

Book Marketing Conference! Learn to Market Your Books

If you are an author and aren't sure how to best market your books, I have a conference for you! THe Utah Book Marketing Symposium is THIS FRIDAY and they are offering classes targeted specifically to marketing your books. There are some amazing presenters and this is one conference you really shouldn't miss.

If you go, I'm teaching "Five Secrets to Great Back Cover Copy: Turning Readers From Browsers to Buyers." There will also be vendor tables and tons of people to network with. If you're there, come find me and introduce yourself!

You can check out the complete class line up here. It's open to the public. Registration required.

I Was Interviewed And There's A Giveaway!

The wonderful Hallee Bridgeman interviewed me on her blog. I'm afraid she got a few writerly secrets out of me like the one thing I love most about being a writer and what books were a must-read for me when I was a girl. If you want to read all about it, you can click here to see the entire interview.

AND . . .

There's a giveaway for a copy of my new book, The Capture! Easy to enter and you know you want to win. (I always love it when winners are my blog readers.)

So head on over and put your name in the hat. (Click here and scroll to the bottom)

The Secret Writer

photo credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region Monarch Butterfly in California via photopin (license)

I was sitting at the hospital today waiting for a family member to be done with an outpatient procedure, when a lady who is a fan of my books walked by. (We'd met several times.) We chatted for a minute and then she told the nurse I was an author. As soon as he heard that, he got a light in his eye. "I'm a writer, too!"

As we talked, I found out that he has a lot of stories in his head, and he's written the beginnings of some, but he has trouble writing the middle and end.  He was so interested in the process, and talked a lot about how he came up with characters and his world-building. I recommended some local conferences he could attend and some writers groups he could join to help him finish that first project.

I've been thinking a lot about that nurse today. I can't tell you how many people I've met that have a story in them, or secretly write, or start a story but never finish. I remember the first novel I ever wrote and how I stewed over every word and character. It felt like such an accomplishment when I finally wrote the words, "The End." I want everyone to have that feeling!

Because the thing of it is, we all have a story inside us. Whether it's a cathartic book about personal experiences,

a fiction story,

a poem

or a short story,

everyone has one.

Writing it down is like leaving a little piece of us behind,

to live beyond us,

and to share with the world.

It's nerve-wracking and scary, but at the same time it's exhilarating and thrilling.

The hard part is finishing it. The frightening part is putting it out there.

No matter what anyone thinks, though, finishing a book is an accomplishment that not many people can claim. I hope if you have a story just begging to come out of you, that you'll work on it. Page by page, paragraph by paragraph, until your story is written.

Told.

Read.

So, to the nurse at the hospital and everyone who is a secret writer, let your story out. Give it wings.

Freedom.

Love.

You won't be sorry and those whose lives you touch will be grateful.

The Research Rabbit Hole

So, in a scene for my work in progress, there's this big fight scene and some plexiglass gets shot. I didn't know if it would make a tiny little hole or shatter like it does in the movies. So I got caught in a research rabbit hole today watching all kinds of Youtube videos and reading articles about the differences between bulletproof glass, plexiglass, and safety glass and what happens when you shoot at it, beat it with a hammer, and even whack at it with an axe.

I learned so many things! Did you know that in the movies, it's really just sugar that they've applied a process to so it will shatter a certain way? And that safety glass isn't really all that safe. Look at this video:

You would be surprised how many awesome videos there are and different ways there are of "testing" it to see how much violence certain glass can take. I had a great time and really learned a lot.

The downside is, of course, that I won't use more than three sentences about it in my book, if that. Sigh. But, I'm sure that information will come in handy someday. At least that's what I tell myself.

Before you feel too sad for me, though, the life of a writer is never dull, that's for sure! And I'm a Youtube expert on so many weird things that I can be fun at a party. Well, a writer's party, maybe, where people understand why you know a lot of details about strange things. Haha!

Now that I've come up for air from my "rabbit hole" I really need to get back to writing this amazing and authentic fight scene. I'll be sure to point it out to you when it's published, just so you can see how it all turns out!

When A Beta Reader Hates Your Manuscript

photo credit: Anomalily Day 183: I am my (and my laptop's) own worst enemy 

via photopin (license) 

As an author, my beta readers (the people who read my book while it's still in a working stage) are invaluable. They get to see my work when it still needs a polish. I have a set group of people that I know and trust, both men and women who are honest with me in what is working in the story and what needs to be changed. Recently, however, I branched out.

My goal was to find some new beta readers to help me with my current work-in-progress and through the process hoped that maybe there would be a few who would fit into my trusted circle of readers.

A few days after receiving my manuscript, I got two critiques back. The first one came back with really helpful comments---there was some encouragement and praise sprinkled throughout with the things this reader liked about the book, but also several good suggestions for places that needed a second look. I definitely wanted to work with this person again. It was balanced and fair and helpful.

The second reader was very complimentary, and really liked my story, but didn't offer any criticisms at all. While this is sweet of the reader, and a nice stroke to my writer's self-esteem, it didn't really help my story get better. I wish I could have assured this reader that it's okay to be honest and offer me constructive criticism because it is better for the book in the long run.

The third reader took a few more days to come back and I was excited to open it when I got it. I started to read this person's comments and my heart absolutely sank. The comments were harsh and at times, personal and unkind. They felt my characterization wasn't believable, that the plot wasn't making sense, and that my central theme/overall writing was weak. I read through the entire document, and, though I've been edited by some of the hardest editors in the business, this critique by an unknown beta reader hurt me. That little inner writer's voice that tells me I'm not good enough was shouting, "See! You stink at writing!" It was hard to take.

I felt paralyzed the next day when I sat down to edit and finally ended up putting my manuscript aside and using my precious writing time to binge watch Alias. I love Sydney Bristow and Michael Vaughn and the writing in the first three seasons was really well done and entertaining. Not to mention that the chemistry between the cast was riveting. It was nice to escape into someone else's story for a bit.

But I knew that, eventually, I needed to come back to my manuscript. When I finally did, I took a deep breath and opened that harsh beta read again. Taking the emotion out of it, I looked at each comment critically. Did the reader have a point? Could I be more clear with my dialogue? Is the continuity and characterization flowing or is it uneven? Once I had a little distance, I was able to see the comments that would help me make my story stronger, and it became more clear which were the comments that I could discard as one person's opinion.

And that made all the difference.

Beta readers are important to the process, but every writer has to decide what is best for their story. Taking emotion and ego out of the equation will help quiet the insecurities and focus on creating something for others to enjoy. It's so hard sometimes! But, even with all the hard things, like when my inner critic's voice joins with those on the outside, I wouldn't trade what I do for anything else in the world. There are so many ups in this business that far outweigh the downs. And when the downs come, I can always pull out my Alias DVDs. Because who wouldn't feel better after watching that, right?

Six Writing Craft Books For .99 Cents Each Today Only!

A writing friends of mine told me about a deal that's being offered for today only. SIX writing craft books are being offered for .99 cents each!

Is Structure the Hidden Foundation of All Successful Stories?

Why do some stories work and others don’t? The answer is structure. In this IPPY and NIEA Award-winning guide from the author of the bestselling Outlining Your Novel, you will learn the universal underpinnings that guarantee powerful plot and character arcs. An understanding of proper story and scene structure will show you how to perfectly time your story’s major events and will provide you with an unerring standard against which to evaluate your novel’s pacing and progression.

Structuring Your Novel will show you:

• How to determine the best techniques for empowering your unique and personal vision for your story.


• How to identify common structural weaknesses and flip them around into stunning strengths.


• How to eliminate saggy middles by discovering your “centerpiece.”


• Why you should NEVER include conflict in every scene.


• How to discover the questions you don’t want readers asking about your plot—and then how to get them to ask the right questions.

Story structure has enabled countless bestselling and classic authors. Now it’s your turn!

Click here to download your copy for .99 cents!

The 12 Key Pillars of Novel Construction takes the mystery out of building a solid story and shows you how to go from idea to complete novel in practical, easy-to-understand steps.

Build smart!

Over and over, struggling writers make the same fatal mistakes in their manuscripts. Even writers who have studied all the best writing craft books and taken workshops and followed writers’ blogs still don’t get the structure.

Truth is, a lot of writers believe they can write a novel without taking time to learn the nuts and bolts of novel construction. Just as with building a house, writers need to adeptly wield the proper tools and materials, and follow structurally sound rules if they hope to “build a novel.”

Build strong!

Smart writers will take the time to learn how to structure strong pillars that will hold up their novels. This new comprehensive writing craft book clearly lays out just how to build each essential pillar so it can carry the weight of your story. Without such foundational support, collapse is inevitable.

There are 12 key pillars of novel construction, and if any of these pillars is weak, made of faulty materials, it will compromise the integrity of your novel. 

Build a novel that will stand up to scrutiny and thrill readers!

Click here to download your copy for .99 cents!

To see the other four writing craft book deals go here! 

Summer Survival Writing Tips

I always think at the beginning of the summer that I'll be able to find time for writing because we'll have a more flexible family schedule. Somehow that never happens, despite my best efforts.

So, I've gone back to my summer survival writing. Which means, I'm using all my tips and tricks to get some writing in every day and stay on track.

• I can write in fifteen minute increments. Often, when I'm at the pool with my kids, or the library, or the park, I can be thinking of my next scene or the next piece of dialogue. Then, when I get home, I can head to my computer and spend the next fifteen minutes to half an hour writing down what I'd just imagined. I don't worry about editing at this juncture, I just get it down. 

     I also can write for fifteen, get my kids settled and busy for fifteen, and come back to the computer for another fifteen. Working that way can take some getting used to and finding your writing groove can be hard, but it keeps the scenes running through my head and the writing does flow once I've adjusted. Being a writermom takes balance and imagination, but it's worth it!

• I carry my notebook with me to jot down ideas, outlines, and character arcs. I'm always surprised by how much time I find to write in that notebook and how my creativity is different when I'm away from a computer.

• I almost always have a loose outline I work off of so when I do get to a computer I don't waste time and know exactly what I want to get down.

• I have a regular time that I do a word sprint with a partner. She keeps me honest and gives me accountability. I also meet regularly with my critique partner and those meetings give me a deadline and a reason to put forth a concerted effort.

And last, but not least, I don't get down on myself when I don't make it to the word count I wanted to for the day. My family always comes first and we will have some great summer memories. But, using these little tips keep me on track to get my stories on paper that are anxious to be told. 

Have you heard of any great summer survival writing tips?

Writer Goal Wednesday

photo credit: plnaugle via photopin cc 

Well, my goals two weeks ago (before I got sick) were:

• to write another chapter on The Captain 
• update my media kit. 
• decide on a blog tour for The Captive.

I am so happy to say that I accomplished all my goals!  My press kit is updated! I wrote a chapter! And I'm part of the Loving the Book Launch Valentine's Day Blog Tour Blitz! This is a fun way to meet twelve authors of clean romance leading up to Valentine's Day. (Consider yourself invited to the party! You can go here to see the Facebook page that features the participating authors and the books that are being highlighted.) This is going to be fun!

For next week, I'd like to make it a goal to:

• finish another chapter 
• update my word count widget to be accurate. 

Yeah, maybe they are small goals, but babysteps, right?

How did you do with your goals this week?

Writer Goal Wednesday

photo credit: plnaugle via photopin cc 

My goal last week was to write the first chapter of The Captain and I did that and more! The first two chapters just poured out of me. Hopefully the entire book will be that easy! 

It does help that I have a sprinting partner. We take an hour each week and just sprint. It's so motivating and it helps me draft. Getting it down is the main thing, right? The polishing and editing will come later. I'm excited for this story!

I also edited a novella for an author friend and as soon as her story comes out, I'll let you know. It was really good!

I am counting this as a very productive writing/editing week. I've started the new year off with a bang.

So, this week's goal will be:

• Write a chapter of The Captain
• Update my Press Kit
• Decide on whether to do a blog tour/launch party for The Captive 

What about you? How are your New Year's Resolutions holding up? Any new goals you're working on?