2022 was a productive year for writing, though I admit it wasn’t terribly successful. But every time we write, we learn something, yes? I can happily look back and say my writing has improved considerably over this past year, and I’m excited to see where it can go in 2023. If you want to see…
Your Thesaurus: Friend, Frenemy, or Foe?
We all know those words: the ones you use all the time, or the ones that just seem so boring (I’m looking at you, “nice.”). Let’s say you’re on your second draft, and you come across one of those words. You reach for the thesaurus… BUT WAIT! Not all synonyms are created equal, and you…
I’m in a Magazine!
Alas, I’m not in a magazine because of my writing skills or editing side hustle – but I AM featured in an article about rural emergency management: The article talks more about what I do for my day job (that I love and want to do forever). You can read the full thing in the…
Using “The 7 Whys” to Develop a Plot (With an Example!)
Whether you’re a Planner or Pantser (or Architect or Gardener), you still need to have a super basic plot as a starting point to your story. Yes. Yes, you do. I’m not saying you have to outline your story, but you need to at least know the following: Who is your main character (MC)? What…
Short and Sweet: Tips for Writing Micro Fiction
Micro fiction refers to stories that are generally around 100 words, though I’ve seen some go up to 300. These are some of my absolute favorite things to write – partly because of the challenge and partly because I struggle to expand a plot further than novella-length. Here are some things I’ve learned from writing…