A great paragraph can sparkle—but without good transitions, your readers will still stumble. Think of transitions as the invisible bridges or stepping stones that carry readers smoothly from one idea, scene, or chapter to the next. Done well, they create a sense of...
I've helped a lot of authors with their memoirs. But working with Sam Simon, a lifelong advocate for justice and social change, the third time around has been a whole new kind of experience. After writing The Actual Dance, a memoir about his wife, Susan, battling...
You know that delicious feeling when you’re reading late at night, telling yourself just one more page, and suddenly it’s two in the morning? That’s suspense at work. It’s not just about thrillers or mysteries. It’s the engine that keeps readers glued to any kind of...
Fall is always the time when I put writing plans in motion, likely a carryover from the school year schedule, coupled with the promise of crisper weather. While I love the resulting excitement and momentum, a certain amount of caution is advisable. This year, my pup,...
You’ve written your book, polished it, had it professionally edited, and maybe even lined up your cover design, formatting, and marketing plan. But before you hit Publish, pause for a moment. Timing your launch can make the difference between your book making a quiet...
My writing coach client was closing in on the end of her novel. Like a pony heading back to the barn, she had picked up her pace and was clipping right along. Until she got stuck, and her writing slowed and then stopped. She was on the road with her husband when she...
A few months ago, a close friend treated me to a performance of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton as a thank-you for helping her after knee surgery. I’ve wanted to see the groundbreaking musical since it came out to raves and record-breaking awards ten years ago. The idea...
Most people aren’t used to—or comfortable with—active writing and what I call story-showing. They’d much rather recount a sequence of events rather than chronicle them in a way that a reader can vicariously experience. “I don’t know how to write that way,” most of my...
After a summer of almost no wildfire smoke—a welcome reprieve after a number of bad ones—a fire way too close to neighboring Sisters and just 20 miles from Bend, coupled with another one 100 miles to the West, nailed us. If the...
Audio books are the fastest growing sector of the book publishing business, which makes total sense when you consider the increasing numbers of baby boomers who are now nearsighted and the fact that they’re far from the only age group that likes to listen to books....
