Love is worth the risk
I allowed character development to languish lately. It has been a bit chaotic in our little stone cottage in the urban wilds. Visitors coming. Visitors going. Visitors rescheduling. Visitors coming. News from afar, not all of it good. Children delighting Beloved for Father’s Day. Vegetables shouting “pick me now.” Garden beds either swamped by rain […]
It was a busy weekend here in the urban wilds of eastern Pennsylvania. Bright sunshine alternated with sheets of rain and flooded streets. We planted some small maple trees. They are rescues from previous years’ weeding that survived life in pots long enough to be planted. Brunch with the Belles’ on Saturday got into Why […]
A writer’s work is never done–even when she struggles to get to the writing of books. In 48 hours at the end of last week I published two blogs, scheduled a third, put out my newsletter, and partied with the Bluestocking Belles on Facebook for two hours. All that and I didn’t even get to […]
Monday dawned bright enough this week, but yet another light snow is falling. It will turn to rain, no doubt by noon, just as I’m scheduled to sneak out of my Covid cave for a vaccination appointment. Grrr. But I’m not missing the opportunity. Last week was stressful and crazy with a jangling phone, many […]
Writing is writing isn’t it? I began a family history sixteen years ago and issued chapters to Beloved’s brothers and his many, many, many nieces and nephews as a binder, adding bits as I finished them. After putting it off for several years after out big move, I decided to get the last two chapters […]
The work took a sudden turn two weeks ago. I didn’t start The Defiant Daughter until I had a firm handle on the main characters. At least I thought I did. My hold on the external conflict, or as I have come to call it “the villain plot” was less secure. I plunged in and […]
Oh lovely day! The sun is up and I have a spring in my step. I finally understand why the heroine of The Wayward Son is so obsessed with managing the small estate that has been in her keeping for a few years waiting for the true heir to appear. Knowing my characters intimately is […]
Or, villains in other words! Last week my work in progress came to a grinding halt. After a few days of dazed staring at a blank screen I realized that I had no idea what my villain was up to. Not really. I had built in a small mystery but not enough. This fueled a […]
We’ve been home for a few days and caught up with the Hanukkah folks in our life. I’ve been writing over 1000 words a day on Book one of the new series. If I can maintain it, I may have a draft by mid-February and plans for book two in place. There are speed bumps. […]
After two weeks of driving and visiting, I’m back at my desk today. A highlight was lunch with old friends from Central Ohio Fiction Writers. It was a joy to catch up on everyone’s work, and share with people who love the craft! One topic of particular interest—approaches to starting a new book. Every writer […]