That first writing credit is like the first summit of miles and miles of a mountainous trek. It seems so daunting and yet so promising because without the first summit, you can't go anywhere. I will admit, when I first started submitting pieces to magazines I only shot for the best of the best. If … Continue reading 5 Steps to Get Your First Writing Credit
Today's workshop takes a look at object complements and how to identify them within a sentence. (Just in case Direct Objects and Indirect Objects weren't confusing enough.) What is it? An object complement is a noun or adjective that occurs after the direct object. It renames or modifies the object How is it used? The … Continue reading Writer's Workshop Wednesday: Object Complements
When it comes to deciding what to write, there is a vast array of options. Some writers are diehard fiction fanatics, and other enjoy the practicality and structure of nonfiction. Me? I like both, personally. I love exploring different realities and the creative outlet of fiction, but I love researching and organizing ideas with nonfiction. … Continue reading Should you Write Fiction or Nonfiction?
“I think that writers are made, not born or created out of dreams of childhood trauma—that becoming a writer (or a painter, actor, director, dancer, and so on) is a direct result of conscious will. Of course there has to be some talent involved, but talent is a dreadfully cheap commodity, cheaper than table salt. … Continue reading The Free Writer’s Workshop Wednesday: The Writing Process
I just started training for marathon number four. The past three marathons have been absolutely terrible, so much so, I’ve questioned whether or not I should continue. Sometimes I wonder why I keep going after things that I fail at. And, oh yes, I have failed at many things. It hurts. It really hurts to … Continue reading Facing Failure: What You Can Learn from Failing
Well, it's February. I know, I'm shocked too. Did you January fly by as quickly as mine did? Did you know most New Year's resolutions are broken by February? I don't know the exact statistic, and I don't really care, but it's something I was thinking about at the beginning of this year. I don't … Continue reading Creating Habits that Stick
There's something that happens when a child picks up a book. Whether they toddle over to a parent and plop on their lap or sneak pages under their sheets in the glow of a flashlight, when a child reads, magic happens. I don't say this to sound prosaic or poetic; I truly believe it. I've … Continue reading Writing for Children
Something happens when the leaves turn and the air chills. I'm not talking about going crazy for pumpkin everything and busting out the boots. I talking about how we suddenly crave warm comfort foods: soups, stews, and casseroles to name a few. There's something very nostalgic about the scent of yummy food after coming in … Continue reading Gluten-free Cornbread
If it seems like it's been a while since my last post, that's because it has been. I knew that having a fourth child would be crazy, but I don't think I was prepared for the level of crazy that my house is currently living. Life with four kiddos is B-A-N-A-N-A-S! I'm reminded of that … Continue reading Life With Four
Baby E is one month old already, and I don't know how that happened. Something about those first few weeks home with a newborn just blur together into one, messy, sleep-deprived blob. My labor and delivery went better than I could have asked for, and I'm so grateful that everything went well without any complications. … Continue reading How to Avoid an Epidural During Delivery
