Details Found in Formatting

Some formatting details you may not have noticed when reading your favorite book include the first paragraph of each chapter and each section not having an indentation and the first page of each chapter does not have a page number. Speaking of page numbers, they do have to alternate between the right side and theContinue reading “Details Found in Formatting”

Formatting a Book

Formatting a book can be very time consuming. It can also be insanely frustrating, if you are not familiar with the program you are using. Let’s just say there is a steep learning curve. However, once you understand what needs to be done and how to do it. It will only take about a quarterContinue reading “Formatting a Book”

To My Writing Followers

This is an exceptional resource for self-publishing authors. The internet is overloaded with information about self-publishing. As a first time author, it’s difficult to know where to turn to figure out this once “secretive” business of publishing. Joel and Betty’s book, The Self Publisher’s Ultimate Resource Guide, is exactly what its title proclaims it toContinue reading “To My Writing Followers”

Unfulfilled Needs

Without conflict, there is no story. We’ve all heard it a million times. But what fuels the conflict? The unfulfilled need of your protagonist, of course. The need of your protagonist must be deep enough to get you through your entire story. It also has to be something the reader can relate too, otherwise evenContinue reading “Unfulfilled Needs”

Creative Head Space

Many writers are able to schedule time to write at the same time each day of the week. Having a set time prepares your mind to be creative and to get into the mood. Other’s create a space in their home or office where the magic happens. Their brain kicks into creative mode when theyContinue reading “Creative Head Space”

Point of View

When you craft a scene in a character’s POV, every line in that scene has to feel as though it is being processed, chewed, and spit out by that character. Everything that happens in that scene is witnessed, experienced, felt, and reacted to by that character. And so, even the narrative must have “voice.” CSContinue reading “Point of View”

Choose Words that Characterize

Trying to convey how we feel with words can be difficult. You sit with the feeling and think about the words that attempt to express it. Nothing really does though. They come close, but something is always missing. I’ve spent hours trying to find the right words, construct the right sentence, and make other’s feelContinue reading “Choose Words that Characterize”

Why Write?

Ever writer has a different reason for writing, and each work in progress (WIP) has its own unique spin on the ultimate reason for writing. If you don’t know why you write, you will lose your motivation and your WIP will languish in a closet and never be finished. One reason is not better thanContinue reading “Why Write?”

The perfect couple

Running and Writing sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g, First comes love, then comes marriage, Then comes baby in the baby carriage. I may be a little biased, but running and writing are the perfect couple. They rarely fight or argue. The weakness of one is the strength of the other. Writing requires a lot ofContinue reading “The perfect couple”

Cover Creations

Wow! I have a new level respect for cover designers. Seriously, I have been trying to learn to use Adobe Photoshop to create covers for my books and it is not as easy as I thought it would be to pick up. I understand the ideas behind it, but trying to remember where everything is,Continue reading “Cover Creations”