There is nothing worse than reading a book and finding an overabundance of the same word. I don't just mean "and" and "the" here. For example, an otherwise decent author I've read uses the word "cloying" at least once in every book, sometimes more. (Please, if I ever do this, tell me.) Words are like… Continue reading Writer Wednesday: Spice up your writing
Tag: writing
Tuesday Critique
Here's an excerpt from Slumber for anyone to read, enjoy, cut up as you see fit. 🙂 “Benjamin has come to speak with us about your betrothal,” Father said with a heavy sigh. “I hope you told him, as I did, that there is nothing to be done.” “We did,” Mother said. “But he will hear… Continue reading Tuesday Critique
Critique Tuesday: Eliora’s betrothal
Here is the opening scene from my first draft of a young adult novel called Slumber. Please pick it apart and let me know what you think. 🙂 It was not at all unusual for a girl to balk at her prospective groom. After all, it was rarely her choice, even if she was not… Continue reading Critique Tuesday: Eliora’s betrothal
Writer Wednesday: How to bring a scene to life in 5 minutes.
Here goes my first writing challenge. Have you got your work in progress ready to go? Pick a scene that feels really flat to you. (Or make one up if you don't have a wip) Now close your eyes. Imagine yourself standing in that room. What do you see? That's easy. It's the first… Continue reading Writer Wednesday: How to bring a scene to life in 5 minutes.
Where have I been? Where am I going?
So in August I made some goals for the new (school) year and I thought it would be interesting to see how I'm doing. It's always useful to take stock of where you are and where you plan to be. 1) Training the puppy. Tink is a pretty awesome doggie, and at 7 months she's… Continue reading Where have I been? Where am I going?
Why does family history matter?
While I've been working onmy wip about my family history, I've been thinking--what does it all matter? Why do we care what dead ordinary people did centuries ago? I guess the answer for me is that in my mind they're not really dead. The stories I have about my ancestors bring them to life in… Continue reading Why does family history matter?
3 Things I Learned from NaNoWriMo
Ok, so now that I've had a month to recuperate, get sick, recuperate again, have Christmas, and recuperate again...now I want to take a look back at what I learned from the whole NaNoWriMo experience #1 I can get blood from a stone! Writer's block? What's that? Despite several moments of fearing I wouldn't finish my NaNo,… Continue reading 3 Things I Learned from NaNoWriMo
Hurdle #1: Right on Schedule
I've been told every writer hits a hurdle around the second week of NaNoWriMo. Today is Day 7, so right on schedule. I spent the better part of the morning trying to figure out where my novel was going next. I get this with every novel, of course, but NaNo has the unique ability… Continue reading Hurdle #1: Right on Schedule
NaNoWriMo Day#1
So day 1 went off without a hitch: 2,014 words despite volunteering in the twins' class all morning and taking my son to the dentist in the afternoon. So I'm thinking I've got this. 🙂 Developed a splitting headache and spent the better part of an hour in the middle of the night taking both… Continue reading NaNoWriMo Day#1
What am I doing?
NaNoWriMo National Novel Writing Month. 30 days, 50,000 words of pure output, one novel. For years I've considered the concept, flirted with the idea of actually participating, watched November come and go. This year I've decided to take the plunge. And because I'm a good little instruction follower, I'm telling everyone like the website says… Continue reading What am I doing?
Erin E. M. Hatton 