The Ups and Downs of City Life in San Francisco, California
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 …
Insecure Writers want to know: Win or not, do you usually finish your NaNo project? Have any of them gone on to be published?
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, …
What Exactly is the Origin Scene in Memoir or Fiction? #AuthorToolboxBlogHop
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 …
Insecure Writers want to know: Have you ever slipped any of your personal information into your characters, either by accident or on purpose?
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, …
The Fourth of July Celebrated in a Desert
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 …
What Does Backstory Do in Memoir or Fiction? #AuthorToolboxBlogHop
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 …
Insecure Writers want to know: Have You Ever Surprised Yourself with Your Writing?
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 …
Camping Coast to Coast with Kids: How to Make It Work
When we took the troops west from New Jersey the second time, we made it to the Pacific Coast. For a little over a …
Flawed Characters in Memoir #AuthorToolboxBlogHop
Yes, even in memoir, the protagonist needs to be flawed. Flawed in her understanding, her logic, and her actions. Other characters may be flawed as well. This can be difficult …
Insecure Writers want to know: What are your pet peeves when reading/writing/editing?
What really gets stuck in my computer keys is this mindset, usually by non-writers, that writing a story is easy. Now wait! We are …