Writers have quite a way with words. It's kind of our thing, you know? Our stories' meanings often go much deeper than surface level and, for a lot of us, it's an accomplishment when we create an environment that encourages critical thinking and self-reflection for our readers. Readers may also find their own understanding of our words or add new meanings of their own. They may notice things about our stories that we as the writer did not and view them differently from us bas

Writers are a curious and often misunderstood bunch. Whether they're working on their first novel or they're a seasoned pro with twenty-seven books under their belt, navigating the process of writing and publishing can be an emotional rollercoaster—one that we often feel like we're riding alone. It takes a village to publish a novel. A manuscript goes through so many hands before it hits bookstore shelves, and among the best a writer can have in their corner are those of supp

Long Shore Beach, ME Towards the end of October, my mother and I spent a few days up in Maine for a much-needed vacation. I hadn't traveled really at all since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic just because of work schedules and finances and, you know, general global circumstances. The last trip my mom took was to attend a funeral, so not exactly a vacation. So we entrusted my presumably Maine Coon mix with a cat-sitter (thanks, Cara!!) and made the drive up to Maine. But, o

It's become a tradition here on the blog for me to post a candy-inspired post the week of Halloween. In past years, I've talked about viewing the editing process like the filling in a Kit-Kat bar or the importance of finding your audience in relation to the annual love-hate debate over candy corn . And in 2024, we're continuing this trend in a way that pays homage to a trend that was fairly popular on social media this year: the candy salad. If the algorithm didn't send at l

They say that a cluttered desk is a sign of a creative mind, and believe me when I say that my desk is very cluttered. Part of that can be attributed to how small my desk is, but I'll also admit that a good deal of my limited space is taken up by my collection of crystals, which has been steadily growing over the years. Crystals are something I feel like I have always been drawn to but only began exploring more in-depth as an adult. While there is not much scientific proof o

So many writers, myself included, find that it's easier to concentrate when they have music playing. It can be helpful to lessen any distracting noises of your surroundings or further immerse yourself in your story's setting or the scene you're working on. Music can be such a valuable asset for your writing process, so it's important to set yourself up with the right tech. I've tested out many Bluetooth earbuds over the years, but the most reliable I've owned to date are the