Third Annual Christmas Post.

In 2015, I was feeling distinctly Scrooge-ish. In 2016, I was feeling more Cratchitty. This year, I'm feeling a kind of happy blend of the two. As in, I'm definitely wandering around "humbugging" every five minutes or so, but in a cheerful way. If that makes any sense. Anyway, here's a roundup of my favorite …

Writer-y Christmas.

Okay, late blog today, because I went to a matinee of "The Man Who Invented Christmas." Highly, highly recommended. Not only is it a beautiful Christmas movie, with gorgeous cinematography (and a gorgeous Dan Stevens, holy cow), and a wonderful cast, it's such a great writer movie. Seriously, the first scene in the movie is …

Broadway Sonnet 2.

Nothing new to report on the novel front, I'm afraid. My alphas haven't finished reading the thing yet, and I haven't mustered the courage to pick it up. Next week, I promise. In the meantime, here's another Broadway Sonnet for you, still from the magnificent Hamilton, but this time we get to hear from Aaron Burr. …

As If By Magic.

"It is the function of art to renew our perception. What we are familiar with we cease to see. The writer shakes up the familiar scene, and, as if by magic, we see a new meaning in it." -Anais Nin

5 Questions for Alpha Readers.

Okay, folks. Last week I promised to let you know how it's going with allowing people to read my first draft. Well, I'll tell you. It's scary. Plus, I think I'm really starting to annoy people with my hand-wringing and repeated assertions that it's really such a mess so please don't expect it to be …

Desires > Endeavors.

I'm reading Shakespeare's Henry VIII right now, and I just read a line in Act III, Scene 2 that made me snort. "...my endeavours Have ever come too short of my desires..." I'm sure my fellow creators can relate. Nothing ever comes quite up to what we picture in our minds, does it? But that's what keeps …