A debut novel from an award-winning poet, I’m Not Missing is a must-read for any teen who’s felt the pain of lost friendship and the challenge of finding herself.
Read moreThe Myth of “Write What You Know”
The advice may be well intentioned, but we tend to take it too far, translating it to mean “write only what you know.”
Read moreThree Reasons Shorter Can Be Better
While many tomes, from War and Peace to the last Harry Potterbook, are definitely valuable literature, it’s not their length that makes them great. And, conversely, well-done short stories and novellas can be incredibly powerful.
Read moreA Peek Behind the Curtain with Hustle Up: ATX Ladies Who Network
Hustle Up: ATX Ladies Who Network founder Jacky Lamenzo interviewed me (on video!) for a series on women who’ve taken the leap from side hustle to full-time hustle.
Read moreBook Review: Summer of Salt
I loved Katrina Leno's Summer of Salt so much that, when I finished, I hustled to the library to check out all of her other work!
Read moreHow the #1 Rule of Improv Can Help You Get Along with Your Inner Critic
Learn how to play “yes, and” with your inner critic to overcome writer’s block.
Read moreStaying Sane During Writing Hours
Maybe writing isn’t your full-time job (or maybe it is, in which case, go you), but when you sit down at your desk for hours at a time, working in solitude on this project that is only yours, I bet some of those same feelings—both good and kind of scary—creep up.
Read moreBook Review: Girl Made of Stars
Girl Made of Stars adds an important dimension to the discussions we’re having today, both in public and in private, and Blake’s deft handling of tough topics makes for an engaging and powerful read.
Read moreWorld Building: The Dictionary of Imaginary Places
As a kid, I loved poring through the dictionary, revisiting worlds I’d been to and worlds I hadn’t. Today, I like to reference it when I’m helping authors develop their own magical places.
Read moreHow Can You Tell if a Scene Is Working? It’s Child’s Play
As you’re mapping out new scenes or reviewing the ones you’ve already written, see if they pass this test.
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