As I write this, I'm pushing through another Monday. I'll be honest. The second I woke up this morning I knew it was going to be one of those unsatisfying days. Why? Well, Monday. That probably says it all.I didn't sleep well.It's the end of March and STILL snowing.I needed…
Last month I took a few days to flesh out my next novel and promptly got a case of the plotting blues. Almost eighteen months ago, I’d figured out the basic plot (it will be the sixth and final book in my Wyoming Ranchers series), but I knew I needed to develop it further before I can begin writing it.
Here’s the thing: I’ve been anticipating writing this book for a long time! I know the hero. I’m excited to write his story. But when it came time to flesh the story out? Nothing.
I prayed about it and relaxed. The story would come to me at some point. They always do. But in the meantime, I decided to try something different.
The temptation to over-simplify secondary characters, especially bad guys, hits me every time I write a first draft. Since my books are short, I don’t have much space to devote to sub-plots, and some of the characters are off-camera anyway. These bad-guy characters are typically exes—ex-boyfriends, ex-wives, ex-in-laws. You know,…
My writer productivity skyrockets when I set monthly goals. At the beginning of each week I break them down into daily tasks that will work within my current schedule. Do you know how great it is to finish projects? Of course you do! For me, setting monthly goals makes it all possible.
Every month I share how I did the previous month as well as my new goals. Let’s get to it!