I’ve listened in and been a part of many conversations about choosing the past or present tense in storytelling, and the most common advice I hear from one writer to another is some version of, “Do what feels right.” Friend, there is better advice out there and I’m going to give you some right now….
Best food product I tried this year Tillamook veggie cream cheese On a bagel, sure, but I love this cream cheese for a carrot/celery stick snack and slathered on a tortilla and wrapped up with turkey and veggies. Best product I tried this year Sheets laundry soap Thin sheets of soap that come in a…
It’s a Wonderful Life is my husband’s favorite Christmas movie and we often watch it on Christmas Eve. But my daughters and I have talked about George’s temper—it bothered them as children and it bothers them now. There’s something about people venting anger, and in this case the prospect of male violence, that shakes them…
U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser said that titles “…represent the hand you extend in friendship toward your reader.” He was talking about titles of poems, but his words apply to titling your book as well. Yes, people buy books because they’re interested in the concept, but just as important is their assessment of the cover….
A few years ago I joined a bunch of writing groups on Facebook. I wanted to see what writers were talking about—I wanted to understand what questions they were asking in hopes that I’d learn how to better help my clients and students. I jumped in here or there to offer support or weigh in…