Making Peace with the Writer’s Ego – Part 1 – Defining Ego

As writers, we often hear about keeping our egos in check. Or, worse, we see examples of egos gone wrong, when writers act out of control. We see it in the media or on twitter when a writer, perhaps famous, often successful, steps out of line and acts like a jerk. Or we've heard horror …

Strengthen Your Fiction Writing with a Find and Rework List

Several years ago, when I was working on The Watcher, I enrolled in Betsy Warland's Vancouver Manuscript Intensive Solo program, where I had not one but two wonderful mentors working with me on my first book. One of them, A.M. Dellamonica, pointed out words I used far too often and advised me to find and rework instances of …

Fiction Friday: Tips from an Editor – Active and Passive Voice in Character Viewpoint #writetips

In today’s Fiction Friday, I’m sharing some advice I got from my editor Rie Langdon, when she was working with me on my book, The Angel Killer. As a writer, I'm always looking for new ways to get deeper into the character's point of view (sometimes called "Deep Voice"). Rie gave me some great tips …

Six Ways Meditation Can Make You a Better Writer

Ever since I printed my first letter "A" while watching Sesame Street as a toddler, I wanted to be a writer. I spent a good deal of my childhood and teens expressing my innermost thoughts and feelings through stories and poems. Once I reached a certain age, however, my yearning to write became more of …

Fiction Friday: 8 Things Writers Forget When Writing Fight Scenes

Recently, I attended a session called "Writing About Fighting" at VCON, a science fict ion and fantasy conference. The panel consisted of writers and experts who were disciplined in multiple martial arts, including authors Lorna Suzuki and T.G. Shepherd, and Devon Boorman, the swordmaster of Academie Duello in Vancouver. For me, this talk was so fascinating, it …

Meditation and imagination, what’s the connection?

https://www.traininginpower.com/mediation-and-imagination-whats-the-connection I am honored to be featured on the Training in Power blog this month. Click the link to read more!

KidLit Fall Writing Frenzy 2023

I'm participating in the kidlit #FallWritingFrenzy this year after a long hiatus. The Fall Writing Frenzy was founded by Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez. You can find out more about it and find some of the other entries here: https://kaitlynleannsanchez.com/fall-writing-frenzy-2023/. Special thanks to Kaitlin Leann Sanchez and all the donors and judges for giving so generously of …

Secret Magicks Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy Giveaway

I love Halloween and I love a good giveaway--this post offers both!  PLUS, my first book, The Watcher is on for 99 cents right now. Its sequel, The Angel Killer is on sale too! October 11-31 Kindle Fire 7 • Amazon Gift Cards • Ebook Packs • Leather-Bound Spell Book  Paranormal romance, fantasy romance and urban fantasy …

Kidlit Fall Writing Frenzy 2019

Hello there! It all started with this great post I found by Rhys Keller on twitter, pointing to a writing contest. Turns out this KidLit Fall Writing Frenzy, hosted by Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez and Lydia Lukidis was exactly what I needed to get me excited about autumn.  (And Halloween, which is one of my favorite days of the year!) You …

It’s Not About #TeamOtter or #TeamKoi. It’s About #TeamStory

I am a resident of Vancouver, Canada, and an author of young adult fiction. About the Otter in the Park For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, around two weeks ago, a river otter found its way into Vancouver's Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden and has been feasting on the pond's …