Victoria Marie LeesMany writers are insecure, lonely animals. The publishing industry has changed drastically in recent years. Gone is the support system of old for writers when they had agents and editors …
Our chilly children and their “dark,” “crumbly” California sand castle. The verdict is in. The Pacific Ocean is colder than the Atlantic Ocean according to our children. True, we weren’t …
San Francisco and the cable car go together like our family and camping. There are ups and there are downs, and ups and downs. The first down—literally—came when we were …
Unfortunately, I don’t participate in NaNoWriMo. I simply don’t need more pressure to write. I write almost every day; poetry, short story, blog posts, …
The inciting incident is the start of story present. In my case it’s when a high school guidance counselor challenges me to help my special needs daughter through her high …
I think all writers do this, although sometimes without realizing it. I know I do. In memoir, of course personal information is shared. That’s what memoir is all about, …
We were camping in the desert by the time 4th of July rolled around. We were in Nevada this time camping at Casa Blanca in Mesquite. The children—and yes, the parents!—loved …
The question of “why” continues in memoir and fiction. Why this protagonist? Why now? Why does what happens in the story present matter to the protagonist? Through backstory, we find …
I surprise myself every time an editor accepts one of my short stories. When I create my YA adventure stories, I feel as though I have both the inner and …
When we took the troops west from New Jersey the second time, we made it to the Pacific Coast. For a little over a …