Blog
On Writing A Book Series
Keeping a series fresh and fun is a challenge—and it does not get any easier. As I sit down to write Book Four in my Mercy Carr series, I find myself rethinking everything I’ve learned about writing a series so far—often the hard way—and reminding myself of key take-aways:
10 Writing Lessons We Learned from 2020
Hindsight is 2020. I stole that great line from my son Greg Bergman, Editor-in-Chief for capitalwatch.com. This year was a nightmare, but we did learn a lot—the hard way—about our industry, ourselves, and each other.
A Writer’s Gratitude Journal
This year, finding the silver lining in what often seems like an endless sky crowded with darkening clouds may be difficult, but as writers we are blessed in many ways. Just being a writer is in and of itself a blessing. Holding on to that understanding can be tough...
OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!: One writer’s guide to writing through the pandemic
We’ve all heard the old writing saw Write what you know. I usually embellish this as: Write what you know. Write what you love. Write what you’d love to know. But thanks to the pandemic, many of us are spending way too much time at home, and I for one am getting...
Writing Lessons from the Garden
During this wild and crazy pandemic year I planted my first potager garden. Something I’d always planned to do but finally managed to pull off. Like writing my first novel. I learned a lot, and a lot of what I learned applied to writing as well as gardening. You amend...
Take the Thick Skin Test
With the summer now officially over, we all go back into school mode, sharpening our pencils and our plots, renewing our commitment to writing. As artists we never stop learning, and many of us take advantage of the many conferences, workshops, classes, critique...
How to Write a Book Proposal (and why you should read this whether you’re writing one or not)
Sooner or later, you may face the challenge of how to write a book proposal. If you’re writing nonfiction or memoir, it’s obligatory. But even if you are not, you should know what’s included.
Comparable Titles 101: Why You Need Good Comps and How to Find Them
Comparable titles are the ammunition you—and agents and editors—all need to sell your work. Here’s an agent’s primer on finding good comps for your project.
The Organizing Principle, for Fun and Profit
Does your work have a strong organizing principle? It’s not what happens in your story, but rather how you choose to frame what happens in your story.
Join the pack
Your first treat is a free Mercy and Elvis short story—available nowhere else. Then, about once a month I'll send exclusive updates, invitations, and more pack-only treats.