One of the hardest aspects of writing a novel, a good novel, is creating characters that are relatable. Whether you’re writing a 300 word picture
Category: Writing – Tools, Tips & Resources
3 Ways to Keep Writing Resolutions
I’ve written resolutions on New Year’s Day faithfully since I was 8 year old. And somehow writing resolutions have almost always appeared. Some years I needed the writing resolutions more than others. Until I got married, I hardly needed them…I have 65 filled journals to prove my writing was free and unfettered!
Book Review: BIG MAGIC: Creative Living Beyond Fear
I didn’t expect to read about being creative over my holiday vacation week. I expected to BE creative, to do some writing during a family
Odyssey Online Writing Courses: Intense Focus, Great Results
Last winter my novel got wrung out, taken apart, and put back together. It was praised and constructively critiqued by classmates from nearby towns and
Hone Your Craft
By Dianna Sanchez I participated in the Arlington (Massachusetts) Book Festival last weekend, one of three on a panel discussing revision, and the moderator popped
How to Research Comps Using AR BookFinder
You’ve done it! You’ve written a children’s book, or maybe a young adult. Congratulations. But before you start to pitch or query your finished manuscript,
Finding Your Views
A few days ago, I watched an interview with Emma Watson and Lin-Manuel Miranda from back in March. If you are unfamiliar with either of
Establishing a Writing Routine
The school year has started. Long gone are those endless days of summer where thousands of words flow out of me at my leisure. Being
Full Moons Can’t Rise at Midnight
I was reading a YA romance novel set on the coast of Maine. The teen girl woke up at 5am on July 4 to sneak
Vicarious Contact
By Dianna Sanchez Reading about children who are different increases a child’s comfort levels. I watched the news coverage of the Orlando mass shooting with
Butt in Chair without an Aching Back
This week is our Third Blogiversary! That’s three years of “butt in chair” commitment to writing, illustrating, blogging, and all the other activities that keep
So You Want to Be a Writer
Since you are already reading this blog, you obviously want to be a writer. There’s no doubt about it and I applaud you. Seriously, it
Charlie Brown Inspires a Character Study
By Carrie Charley Brown While watching The Peanuts Movie the other day, I was reminded of how much I empathize with Charlie Brown. This kid
Plotting a Novel with Sticky Notes
This pantser has gone plotter, and for one particular reason: Speed. My first attempt at a novel took me two years. I wrote it by
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