What do your stories get up to?

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

The scene: Cleveland in August. The humidity increases with each scattered storm. Temperatures and temperments are high. People scramble...

Part of the appeal of writing fiction, for me, is imagining what it might be like to live another life. Social structures that would make...

Though none of the jobs I've held since high school have been seasonal, I've never outgrown the anticipation and excitement of summer....

Miss Marple, Nancy Drew, Jessica Fletcher...Have you found the theme? May is Mystery Month! I recently solved the mundane mystery of...

Sometimes personal events occur on / near widely-observed holidays that dim the joy of celebration for an individual. In my household,...

Spring! A season of freshness, birth, hope. March is the month during which Irish American Heritage, Women's History, Music in Our...

Happy Creative Romance Month! I'm unclear on the celebratory traditions, so I've decided to use it as a personal challenge in my writing....

It's a new year! Our tiny orb spinning in space has completed another trek along its path. If you agree with Ralph Waldo Emerson (as I...

Write A Friend month began with a lovely snow in my area, inviting certain expectations regarding winter weather. I feel as though the...

Happy Author's Day! Begin National Novel Writing Month by celebrating yourself and your works, finished or in-progress. Whether you're...

My local stores have filled with ghosts and ghouls and spooky things, a Halloween movie marathon is on my television, and I'm ready to...

Autumn begins with the autumnal equinox in late September, correct? Maybe by 'official' measures. By the meteorological calendar, the...

August, being the eighth month of the Gregorian calendar year, settled between July and September, is pronounced ˈɑː.ɡəst | ˈȯ-gəst and...

Is there a more stereotypical American summertime scene than a child in a park enjoying a hot dog on Independence Day? Bonus points if...