Most commented posts
- Failing Gracefully as a Writer — 9 comments
- How to make a YA book cover in 4 easy steps! — 7 comments
- Preparing to Publish: Editing — 6 comments
- Introducing the other sister…muse… — 5 comments
- Paying Attention — 3 comments
Author's posts
Oct 27
Invention
Okay, as we’re getting ready for NaNoWriMo (it’s just days away, folks!), it seems timely to talk about invention for a minute. What is invention, after all? Let’s blow the dust off an old Latin text by Horace (from the Ars Poetica): Either follow tradition or invent what is self-consistent. … If it is an …
Oct 20
Preparing for NaNoWriMo
Ahhh, it’s that time of year again. The leaves are beginning to turn, the night air is crisp, stews and hot cocoa are back on the menu, and writers everywhere are gearing up for the plunge we affectionately call NaNoWriMo. Here at SisterMuses, J. Leigh and I are both preparing for what promises to be …
Sep 27
Perseverance
If you read most author blogs, there’s one theme in common across the board: successful writers are the ones who stick with it, no matter how tough or discouraging things get. We all laugh in amazement when we hear how many rejections Author X received before publishing The Blockbuster of the Century or how many …
Aug 11
The Essential Checklist for the Self-Published Author
It’s an unfortunate thing that there’s a stigma associated with self-publishing. I don’t think most people look at a self-employed plumber and say, with a shake of their heads, “Gosh. I guess he must not be good enough to cut it at a big plumbing company.” Most of us, I think, are happy to support …
Jun 28
Build Your Own Writers’ Conference
There’s a reason why many companies have yearly seminars. It gives employees a chance to fire up their enthusiasm for their company and its products or services. It offers them a chance to unplug from the ordinary and have some fun while networking with others in their field. And it gives them the chance to …
Jun 16
A Matter of Perspective, Part II
I’d like to continue J. Leigh’s discussion of POV vs. perspective. This is such an important topic for writers, and something that can make or break a story if not executed correctly. In the last post, J. Leigh defined perspective as a refinement or narrowing of the larger category of point-of-view. When writing, you have …
Jun 11
Silesia: The Outworlder Now Available!
Just a quick announcement on the release of Silesia: The Outworlder! It is available immediately as an e-book, and the paperback edition will follow shortly! Download your copy here today! I have so many people to thank for this project, so I’d just like to take a moment to make some acknowledgments. For J. Leigh – I …
May 19
Diversifying Your Writing Portfolio
Writers love to write. That’s why we do what we do, write? Ummm…right? In finance, advisors always tell clients to diversify their portfolios. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. That kind of thing. So, as a writer, is it wise to diversify your efforts? For instance, if you are a novelist, is it …
May 04
Crossing the Finish Line
You’ve typed the last sentence, added the last end punctuation. You sit back with a satisfied sigh and hit save. It’s finished…finally. Isn’t it? Not quite. The editing process is probably the most arduous and time-consuming part of the craft of writing. And indeed, as we all know, he who refuses to edit is a …
Mar 31
Having purpose
I love to think about language. Yes, I was one of those nerdy kids in high school who actually enjoyed grammar. Even more than grammar, though, I enjoy considering how language does what it does: how does it communicate thoughts, and how does it shape our understanding? I’m not one of those authors who is …