What do your stories get up to?

Happy National Novel Writing Month! I am a nerd for words, and - as every November - I am trying to string together 50,000 of them to meet the NaNoWriMo goal. It is definitely a challenge, but you don't need to stress about it! The stakes are only as high as you make them. You can use NaNoWriMo as a starting point for a separate exercise, as a guide while structuring your writing, or to set expectations and measure benchmarks. Make it personal! However you celebrate and/or pa

Northeast Ohio has spoiled me with Autumnal atmosphere. Warm days beneath colorful leaves, chilly evenings perfect for fires and flannel, apple cake, pumpkin pie, and the sweet smell of decay. I love the winding-down and settling-in feelings that come when everyone returns from vacations and schools start up again. 'Real life' is re-establishing itself in comfortable, mundane ways...And that is when unexpected twists are most unnerving. Being able to subvert expectations is a

Established by Lone Star Publishing in 1984, September is the observance of Be Kind to Writers and Editors Month! Share your favorite authors & editors on social media, read their blogs, join their street teams, write honest reviews, and send them a kind comment; engage with them in uplifting ways. Everyone appreciates hearing when their efforts have been genuinely enjoyed, especially knowing that no work will ever resonate with or appeal to everyone. Re-read your favorite bo

Years ago, a coworker and I would annoy each other with our strong opinions on grammar and punctuation. Neither of us could proofread a document without tweaking something or making broader suggestions - many of which were ignored. I found it frustrating in the moment because I viewed the end product as a reflection of my knowledge and effort. We (my coworker and I) were being too rigid in our approach: trying to teach both the author and the audience, when that was neither r

I've seen an explosion on social media of posts from authors whose work has been accused of being AI generated. This is absolutely demoralizing as a writer. Especially when the reader comments I see are nitpicking punctuation, pointing to phrases that have been used since I was a child (likely before), and arguing grammatical style as their evidence of Artificial Intelligence. AI has been fed a wealth of academic articles, essays and novels (from modern romance to classic lit

Get your beach reads ready, because summer is here! Meteorological summer begins June 1st and lasts exactly 3 months, ending August 31st. We'll need to wait until June 21st this year for astronomical summer, marked by the summer solstice and the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. If you're in the Southern Hemisphere, the June solstice marks astronomical winter. Whether you're traveling or enjoying a stay-cation during the summer months, a beach read can keep

Coinciding with the birthday of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle / International Sherlock Holmes Day (May 22), May is recognized as Mystery Month! The deductive reasoning and observational skills of Sir Doyle's world-renowned consulting detective have become staples of modern crime fiction. Libraries and bookstores often feature curated displays of thrillers during this month, and may have extra activities or events for readers. If you're looking for additional recommendations, the Mys

Don't discount this post just because it's April 1st! While we encourage literary mischief all year long and recognize that extra mischief is inevitable on April Fools' Day, there's something especially important we'd like to celebrate with you this month. Drop Everything And Read (D.E.A.R.) is a national celebration of reading highlighted in April and specifically on author Beverly Cleary's birthday, April 12th. Reading is crucial for cognitive, emotional, and educational g

This winter, I experienced fourteen inches of snow that buried my yard over a single weekend, icicles the length of short swords that threatened harm as they cracked & crashed, and negative temperatures that made stepping out my door dangerous. As uncomfortable as I am in the cold, I don't think I'd enjoy living somewhere that didn't experience traditional four-season cycles. I love watching the weather, smelling the changes in the air, going sledding & playing in snow. That'

We're days from the midpoint of winter - February 3rd, often considered the coldest part of the year - and I am ready to let the month of Creative Romance melt my frigid heart. Whatever I'm reading/watching/playing tends to influence my writing, and I've been consuming a lot of dark media to maintain the necessary mindset for my current project. I reached a breaking point last week. The rabbit hole went too deep and I needed something light and fluffy to pull me out. Somethin