Man or Monster: Unmasking Villains

The fairy-tale villain is dead. Long live the character with many different faces lurking behind their most sinister mask.

Writing Contests (and Why They Make Us Want to Hurl)

Writing contests are great avenues for exposure and constructive criticism. So why does the prospect of entering them make us feel physically ill?

Writing Action Sequences

Actions speak louder than words―until they don’t. Contrary to their more obvious nature, writing action sequences is a delicate art.

Finding Your Groove: Music and the Creative Writing Process

The sound of silence doesn’t inspire everyone; sometimes writers have to learn to march to the beat of their own (or someone else’s very talented) drum.

How to Appreciate the First (Sucky) Draft

Lesson the first for every writer everywhere: the first draft almost always sucks. But that’s okay. In fact, sometimes that works to your advantage.

Join the Conversation: Reexamining Dialogue

When it comes to dialogue, writers really do need to say what they mean and mean what they say.

Writing Mythical Creatures

Fiction writing lends itself to an endless array of characters, from humans to mythical creatures: borrowed, created, or something in between.

30 Tips for Writers, Editors, and Everything in Between

If they’re doing it right, writers never stop picking up tips, learning hard-earned lessons, and toasting the triumphs that sustain them during even the worst writer’s block funks.

The Art of Giving Constructive Feedback (without Becoming a Doormat or a Dictator)

Writers everywhere agonize over the reality of releasing their work to some grammar fanatic and inviting them to fire at will. But step into an editor’s shoes and you’ll see that our jobs aren’t as cut-and-dried as you might think.

REGISTRATION CLOSED: Upcoming Virtual Course in Collaboration with Beauty & the Beast Publishing

Join me on 12/2/2023 for a crash course on proofreading and editing in collaboration with Beauty and the Beast Publishing.