Saturday morning found us on the buses again at 7:30 a.m. We were told when we arrived at Guilford Technical Community College not to enter the building but to wait outside. As a group we were herded to a grassy knoll overlooking two parking lots which had been blocked off. The ATF officer then arrived […] [ ... ]
What a fantastic four days. The Writers’ Police Academy started Thursday afternoon with registration. At that time I picked up my official T-shirt. We looked like Castle with WRITER on our backs. At 5:30 p.m. those who were lucky enough to have had their names drawn from the lottery met for the orientation for the […] [ ... ]
I was going to write a long blog about my 4 days at Writers’ Police Academy, but it’s already past 9:00 p.m., so this will be short. I promise I’ll write more next week. I flew out of Grand Rapids Wednesday afternoon and after a plane change in Cincinnati, I arrived in Greensboro, North Carolina […] [ ... ]
Today I’m heading to Greensboro, North Carolina for the Writers’ Police Academy (http://www.writerspoliceacademy.com/) which starts Thursday afternoon. If you go to the web site and click on the schedule, you’ll see all the fantastic activities that I’m going to have to choose between. I am scheduled to participate in the simulated driving, but, alas, I […] [ ... ]
Which is best, to self-publish your book or go with a traditional publisher? My answer is always: “Depends.” (And no, I don’t mean those undergarments for the elderly.) IMO it depends on the type of book and the writer. Over the years I’ve run into many men and women who have written a memoir. The […] [ ... ]
Today I was in Walmart looking at pregnancy tests. Now anyone who knows me understands how strange that is. I have two grown children and enough white in my hair to make me bald if I plucked all those hairs. I think the young gal who came up next to me (while I was reading […] [ ... ]
Lately I’ve been reading several comments about an article that appeared in the New York Times regarding paid-for reviews. (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/best-book-reviews-money-buy-131408538.html?page=1) If you’ve already read the article and formed an opinion, you can skip reading my blog. If you’re someone who doesn’t like to click on URLs, I’ll try to quickly summarize the article. Basically a […] [ ... ]
I believe in setting goals, and I believe in meeting those goals, if at all possible. I try to set goals that I’m sure I can achieve. Oh, there’s always that “dream” goal of making the New York Times list, but I really have my doubts that will ever occur. No, my “real” goals aren’t […] [ ... ]
My daughter recently asked how she or her brother would know where to find important papers if both my husband and I should die. She has the right to ask this since we made her the executor of our estate, but hey, this is me we’re talking about, not my parents (whose estate I had […] [ ... ]
I’m sure I’ve blogged about networking before. I know many other writers have tackled the subject. With good reason. For a writer, networking is an important part of the job. Maybe not as important as actually sitting down and writing, but right up there on the list. Basically networking is getting out and mingling, letting […] [ ... ]
I believe most writers are manic/depressive. Maybe not in the clinical sense, but emotionally. For me it would explain my wide mood swings. I get a good review, and I’m on the moon. Get a rejection (or a bad review) and I’m in the dumps. The euphoria and depression can be short term or long, […] [ ... ]
“I’m looking for a distinctive voice.” Writers often hear agents and editors say the above, but what do they mean? What is voice? We all know what an audible voice is. When I receive a phone call, I can usually tell within seconds which of my friends is on the line. It’s a combination of […] [ ... ]
Over the years I’ve written for four different publishers. You would think that would mean I’ve had four different editors, or maybe five since I wrote for two different lines for one publisher. In truth, I can’t even remember how many editors I’ve had. I think it might be fourteen. Why so many? No, I’m […] [ ... ]
Last week (June 6th) my dog turned eleven. Zuri has lived the longest of any of my Rhodesian Ridgebacks, and so far he seems to be in pretty good health. He did start getting fatty tumors (non-cancerous) when he was around four. Now he has them all over his body. And he has trouble moving when he first […] [ ... ]
I love being able to send e-mail; I hate making phone calls, especially cold calls. I don’t know why using the telephone is so difficult for me. My co-workers used to tease me that I didn’t even like calling to order pizza. Calling someone I know personally isn’t as bad, but even then I worry. […] [ ... ]
In the last six months I’ve entered three (3) contests. In each case it was a spur-of-the-moment decision. In one case I received a letter in the mail, let it sit around for a bit, and finally decided “Why not?” In the other two cases, emails I received prompted me to take the plunge. In […] [ ... ]
I have put together a rough outline for the third (and I think final) book in my P.J. Benson Mystery series, but I can’t start writing. Actually, I probably could write one or two pages, but then I’d have to stop. Why? Because I don’t know the whos, the whats or the wheres that I […] [ ... ]
Several years ago another published writer and I presented a debate at a conference we were attending. She took the positive position regarding critique groups, I took the negative. At that time I saw a lot of negatives to critique groups; since then, I’ve changed my mind. Oh, many of the points I made that […] [ ... ]
Today I had lunch with a writer friend. He’s written short stories, novels, a memoir, and plays, but he was feeling down today. He said for the last few months he simply hasn’t had the desire to write. There hasn’t been anything he’s wanted to write about, and that bothers him. He likes being a […] [ ... ]
While at the Retreat from Harsh Reality (http://www.retreatfromharshreality.com/) last weekend I had breakfast with a new author who mentioned that she is really stressed due to mishaps and delays regarding her book, which is due out this summer. I tried to give encouragement, but I’m not really sure it made any difference, and I remember […] [ ... ]