I don’t know how long it’s been since I did a “Three Things” post. Some of them are on this blog, others only on Facebook, so it is hard to catalogue them all. Nevertheless, it feels like I’ve ignored my duty to impart knowledge, so here are three things I learned from my kidney. Recently…
Category: Personal Musings
What is grief, if not love, persevering?
What is grief, if not love persevering? (Thank you Lucas Werneck @lukaswerneck for allowing me to use your gorgeous artwork) Some of the best writing out there today is happening quietly in the most unusual of places. On your TV. How long have we heard that watching TV is turning your mind to mush? That…
A Zombie Cosmetologist’s Favorite Things
‘Tis the season, even in year “Holy Hell What Happened,” so it is time to think of gifts. I am a firm believer in pampering so add these to your online ordering spree for yourself as well. (Unfortunately, I get no kick-backs for recommending these products. Sigh. You’d think they value a zombie’s opinion more.)…
Getting Started Writing From Ground Negative One
During this past DragonCon I had the privilege of speaking with a number of writers who were just beginning their journeys. It was so interesting that I wanted to write a series of articles for people who haven’t put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard in a long time and don’t know how to…
3 Things I Have Learned During This Pandemic (and a freebie)
During this pandemic, I have learned 3 things. I shall now bestow my wisdom. People are stupid. This isn’t a new revelation for me. This is obviously something I have noticed before, but every once in a while it hits me in the head like a two-by-four, and this time it slammed into me like…
Big Bird Gave Me A Feather
I shoved and pushed my way through the lines, twenty people deep, to find a square foot of space unoccupied by an excited fan. I was in the Walk of Fame at DragonCon, an annual celebration of all things geeky and nerdy that takes place in Atlanta every Labor Day weekend. I attend to take part in the Writer’s Track,…
That’s When I Knew Why I Was There
I participated in a panel on Writer’s Block at DragonCon this past weekend. I had asked to participate and the kind director said, “Sure.” So, there I was, surrounded by established, successful authors, feeling utterly stupid, and what happened? I wound up moderating because the moderator didn’t show up. Because of my day-time career, I…
The Beginning Writer’s Guide to Writing the Middle
The Beginner’s Writing Guide to Writing the Middle Don’t give up. This is when it gets hard. Appreciate the suck. If it was easy, everyone would do it. Write straight through and tell the whole story without worrying about word count. It is easy to focus on wanting to reach a certain number of…
The Beginner’s Writing Guide to Writing the Beginning
I only started writing seriously five years ago. Since then, with hard work, good friends, and luck, I’ve written eight novellas, all published or being published, a number of short stories that were published in various places, and just finished the first draft of a new novel. So, while I’m not remotely qualified to give…
#HoldOnToTheLight
Today is my birthday and I’m acknowledging it by sharing this part of my story. I sit in the bathroom, lips numb and fingers tingling. I can’t breathe and while I know I’m not dying, I am waiting for the other shoe to drop. I know, just know, that something bad is going to happen….