Things that inspire me to write #43: On Being a Late Bloomer

December 16, 2012.Reading time 1 minute.

There is nothing crappier than discovering you are the same age as someone who is way more successful than you. Yes,that’s right, John Greene, the YA author of like a billion awesome novels is just one year older than me! And yes, I might still be wallowing in a box of Oreos and self pity if […]

Things that inspire me to write #62: Kate Jacobs

November 26, 2012.Reading time 1 minute.

A constant grey fog hanging overhead, large wooden deer and moose statues on almost every corner, and not a single green emblazoned grande cup in sight. If you ever have been to the Canadian town of Hope, you will know that is a small and sleepy little town—in every sense. In other words, the […]

Things that inspire me to write #70: Stephanie Meyer

November 18, 2012.Reading time 1 minute.

An agent once told me that most authors don’t get published till their third manuscript. On a blog I was reading the other day, it was four. Now, considering my first manuscript took me about five years to write that would mean, according to this rule of thumb, I can expect to see my name […]

Mental gatorade: 100 things that inspire me to write

October 19, 2012.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Writing is hard: the rejection part, the critique part, and just the sitting down to do it part (especially when you have experienced a lot of the first two) Since completing my latest novel manuscript I have been finding it especially difficult to get back at it. Which brings me to this: a daily challenge to list […]

Writing and the hunger for swine blood

October 17, 2012.Reading time 1 minute.

Congrats to me. Like some angry bird with a hate on for smirking pigs, I have just launched yet another manuscript (my third) into the publishing stratosphere. And it was not easy. Sure, there was a lot of work involved–especially when combined with my many new mommy duties–but that really wasn’t the hardest part. The hardest part for me: […]

Rejected! Me! Book! Now! Sucks!!

November 25, 2011.Reading time less than 1 minute.

OUCH! My first proper publisher rejection! After telling me that my story was compelling, said publisher, who I will not name specifically (except to say that they are often eaten by killer whales and march in a waddling-like fashion) gave it a pass. I know, I know, writers have to have a tough skin blah […]

Multiple submissions, OCD and peanut butter

February 17, 2011.Reading time 3 minutes.

If you’ve checked the website of a literary agent or publishing house lately, you may have noticed that most of them make a point to warn prospective authors to expect an exceedingly lengthy response time. They never say exactly how long, but if you have recently sent off your manuscript, be prepared for endless hours […]

The Universe Will deliver…more than pizza and Chinese food

January 31, 2011.Reading time 2 minutes.

Everything that is coming into your life you are attracting into your life. And it’s attracted to you by virtue of the images you are holding in your head…(The Secret, page 4)” If you haven’t already seen it, The Secret is a documentary film about the power of positive thinking in which most of the interviewees […]