Today I'm doing something a little different. I've begun blogging over at Redwood Park Communities, the organization where I volunteer. I’ll never forget my first intake interview at United House. It was my birthday, a year and a half ago. I had already been involved with Redwood Park Communities since the beginning, helping to gut… Continue reading Because…
Tag: inspiration
5 Ways to Build an Epic World
If you’re writing a novel, you need a setting. If you’re writing a fantasy novel, your setting needs to be an epic world. Whether you’re writing fantasy, historical fiction, or even something in your own backyard, you need to immerse the reader in that world without drowning them. There are a lot of novels… Continue reading 5 Ways to Build an Epic World
Writer Wednesday: 3 Rules for Keeping Tension Alive
Have you ever heard the expression "jump the shark"? It's a term from television, stemming from the moment when the show "Happy Days" passed its peak. Now people use it to describe that tipping point of any TV show. I'd like to suggest we writers can jump the shark, too.It's all about keeping tension in… Continue reading Writer Wednesday: 3 Rules for Keeping Tension Alive
Monday Motivation: Let it Go
If you have a daughter, you know this song. You're probably singing it right now. And if you're anything like the millions of people who love all things Frozen, this song probably resonated with you.There is something profound about the song, the moment in the movie when frightened, oppressed, crushed little Elsa blossoms and becomes… Continue reading Monday Motivation: Let it Go
Writer Wednesday: 10 Questions to Ask Your Character
The internet is full of helpful lists of questions to ask your date so you can get to know them. But have you ever thought about using these questions to get to know your characters? After all, you're about to embark on an intimate journey with this person. You need to know more than just… Continue reading Writer Wednesday: 10 Questions to Ask Your Character
Monday Motivation: 3 Myths about Daydreaming
I've always been a daydreamer. More often than not, as a child, it got me into trouble. But the more I've thought about my wool-gathering habit as an adult, the more I realize that my greatest strengths rely on this sometimes misunderstood state of mind. Here are some ways I think we've got daydreaming wrong.Myth… Continue reading Monday Motivation: 3 Myths about Daydreaming
Writer Wednesday: Getting Reacquainted with your Manuscript
Have you ever come back to a work in progress after a break and found it a stranger?This is something I've done many a time. Hello there, book-to-be. Who are you exactly? And where do we go from here?I've made plenty of mistakes with this process, daunting mistakes that almost made me give up on… Continue reading Writer Wednesday: Getting Reacquainted with your Manuscript
Monday Motivation: Get Back Up Again
Ever watched a baby learn how to walk? I've had the privilege of a front row seat to this phenomenon four times. And every once in a while I'd marvel at how they struggled, how they pushed through each phase of learning, from rolling over to running, how they failed and fell - often in… Continue reading Monday Motivation: Get Back Up Again
Writer Wednesday: 5 Leaps of Faith for your writing
Ever get to the place in your writing where you just want to play it safe? I think every writer gets there. Doesn't every writer have a manuscript that's too blah because you were too scared to go where you should have gone? Or a manuscript that's gathering dust because you're too scared for anyone… Continue reading Writer Wednesday: 5 Leaps of Faith for your writing
Monday Motivation: Getting through a Rough Day
Last night was the Superbowl party. I don't even like football, but we all go to hang out with friends. But this means we were all up late and ate too much junk food, so this morning it took me ten minutes of gentle touching, shaking, poking, and eventually tickling to wake up my three… Continue reading Monday Motivation: Getting through a Rough Day
Erin E. M. Hatton 