The taut ground of soothsayer
Who broods in caverns for a glimpse of light.
How have I lost the glinting stone
I kept so long in my fist?
Today I must retravel
Mom’s Gift
My mom has always been all about stories. When I was little, she read and read to me: Winnie the Pooh, Ramona the Pest,
That Character You Love to Hate
Sometimes it’s the little things…
Writing antagonists can be almost too much fun. Of course, we don’t want to make the ALL bad. We need to show them as balanced human beings.
I have never told you
“I have never told you.” Five words that can deepen your characters, add page-turning plot elements, and shed light on motivation.
When I talk to my characters (and yes,
Frantic
Frantic. That’s how I used to feel all the time. Like there was no room to breathe. Anyone who’s known me for years will tell you that balance was a struggle for me.
Jealous
I remember the day my friend, Tina Chen showed us the cover of her gorgeous new novel: a lush, moving story written by a generous soul.
Stones
Great stones they lay upon his chest
Until he plead aye or nay…
It were a fearsome man,
The “Why” behind Epicwrite
In December, 1995 I gathered four teenage writers in our living room and began the wild odyssey that would grow into Epicwrite.
Teens Ask “How Do I Get Published?”
And no, it’s not a silly question!
In the Teenage Novelist: Publishing class, I always start by saying,
Go Where the Longing Is
Perfectionism is a thief of time. I used to be plagued by this wily thief—I’d let it into my mind and give it full access.