Writing Tips

3 Books Helping Me Reset my 2025 Writing Goals

After a rocky start to 2025, I'm resetting my writing goals with 3 fabulous books.

Writing Tips

Free Writing Webinars to Kickstart Your 2025 Writing Goals  

The New Year is my favorite time of year for writing because so many people are energized and ready to tackle their dreams.  To help you out with your writing goals, I am teaching two free writing webinars, and I wanted to give a quick sneak peek so that you can decide if it’s the… Continue reading Free Writing Webinars to Kickstart Your 2025 Writing Goals  

Miscellaneous

2024: The Year of Revision

How my writing life - and personal life - shaped 2024 into a year of revision.

Writing Tips

Exploring Hidden World Building in BAD BLOODS

If you’ve been following me for a while, then you already know my young adult series BAD BLOODS is a dark fantasy that hinges on the outcome of a polarizing and violent election–an election primarily focused on the rights of others.  I actually err on the side of caution when promoting this series because so… Continue reading Exploring Hidden World Building in BAD BLOODS

Writing Tips

Free Webinar on Writing Spooky

Just a friendly reminder that I am teaching a free writing webinar this Thursday, October 24. Want to write stories that delight with fright? I will provide tips for writing stories that strike fear in the hearts of readers. (You do not have to have an Orange County Library card to attend.) Register. If you know… Continue reading Free Webinar on Writing Spooky

Writing Tips

How to Find Beta Readers and Critique Partners

I love my critique partners. I’ve been swapping pages with the same group since 2016 (and connected with additional critique partners along the way). Without their insights, I would’ve never grown the way I have over the years, which is why I’m always encouraging writers to connect with beta readers and critique partners, too.  But… Continue reading How to Find Beta Readers and Critique Partners

Writing Tips

Free Writing Webinars: Revising Your Manuscript and Tips for Writing Spooky

This fall I’ll be teaching two free writing webinars. I know how signing up for an educational event can feel daunting…or just plain time consuming. Which is why I thought I’d give you all a sneak peek of what’s coming up. That way, you can make a more informed decision on if the content is… Continue reading Free Writing Webinars: Revising Your Manuscript and Tips for Writing Spooky

Writing Tips

How to Tackle an Edit Letter

Have you ever received an edit letter or notes from a beta reader, and you’re not sure where to begin? Everyone’s revising tactics will be different, but sometimes it helps to see how someone else digests information and figures out what to do.  This is how I tackle an edit letter: I read it once,… Continue reading How to Tackle an Edit Letter

Writing Tips

Trusting the Writing Process When You Must Kill Your Darlings

Right now, I am in the process of killing my darlings. A common phrase used in the writing world, and yet many writers have different definitions for it. Recently, it seems many writers take "kill your darlings" literally and they kill characters. While that technically counts, "kill your darlings" is a reference to eliminating any… Continue reading Trusting the Writing Process When You Must Kill Your Darlings

Writing Tips

How to Organize Scrivener’s Binder for Novel Writing

Have your most important documents accessible while writing.