Lisa Lickel is a Wisconsin writer who lives in a 160-year-old house built by a Great Lakes ship captain. What a great setting for book! I can imagine all sorts of interesting and mysterious aspects a ship captain might build as part of his house. Lisa is a multi-published, best-selling and award-winning novelist, and also…
Scenes are the building blocks of your story. So let’s take a quick look at the definition of a scene. Jack M. Bickham, in his book Scene & Structure, defines scene this way: It’s a segment of story action, written moment-by-moment, without summary, presented onstage in the story “now.” James Scott Bells says in Plot…
Today, I finish this series, and maybe you’re drawing a breath of relief about that. That’s okay. I understand. I know you’re looking for specific advice on improving your story and getting published, but there are times when my spirit is so burdened that I must write about what I believe God has for me…
Do you consider yourself as being organized? I am. At least, I think I am. After all, the spices in my kitchen cabinet are alphabetized, and so are the DVDs in my entertainment center. Look in my closet and you’ll find all my short sleeve shirts in one spot and then long sleeve and all…
I’m speaking today with Donna Goodrich. Donna is no novice to the publishing world. She is a freelance proofreader, editor and speaker, and the author of 25 books and over 700 published manuscripts. Her latest books are A Step in the Write Direction; The Freedom of Letting Go; The Little Book of Big Laughs; and…
We all know life comes with problems, as much as we wish it didn’t. In light of all the recent shootings and violence, today’s subject is a difficult topic. This post was written and planned long before the recent events in Paris and those in the US in Colorado Springs and San Bernadino. My heart…
“Holy cow!” I hear you saying. “Am I on the right page?” Yup, you are. I made some major changes last week. (Thank you Tamara Clymer for your design work.) I hope you like the new look as much as I do. It was kind of scary making such big changes, but fun and exciting,…
Today continues my 4-part series on principles I learned as a Marine that can be applied to our lives and to our work as writers. Click Teamwork to read part 1. Marines have the well-earned the reputation of being the toughest fighting force of the US. Hard work, not laziness, laid the foundation. Boot camp…