Attempting to write during the Christmas holidays adds another line in the dictionary’s definition for stress. We’re busier now than at any time during the year. Our planning and preparation is fun, and we feel like kids who’ve eaten way too much sugar. But the joy of the season vanishes…

Up on a bookshelf A reader’s list Filled with Christmas Novels as gifts. Down through the aisles With lots of books, All with metaphors and crazy hooks. Ho Ho Ho A writer would know. Ho Ho Ho A writer would know. Oh, up on a bookshelf Click Click Click Down…

I was talking with a good friend of mine, Torry Martin, at a conference, and we got into an interesting discussion. He mentioned that being submissive was something that writers don’t often consider. The look on my face must have clued him into my confusion because he went on. “It’s a…

Some time ago, I was writing a story and used a variation of the sentence, “He wished he could be a fly on the wall when they had that conversation.” This puzzled my critique partner, who didn’t know it meant. She had never heard the expression “fly on the wall”…

“I can’t go to a conference. It’s expensive, and I can’t get the time off,” my friend said. She was right. A conference costs time and money. If you ask anyone who has attended one, however, they will say it was worth every penny - and second - they spent.…

Those of you who have read “On Writing” by Stephen King are familiar with the “toolbox” analogy. The world-famous writer makes the case that all writers need a toolbox, an understanding of the various aspects of craft that they can use as needed as they’re putting words on paper. And…