• Poetry Friday July 15, 2022: Organizing Poems in Scrivener

    Elisabeth at Unexpected Intersections is hosting this week’s Poetry Friday. Hop on over there to see the roundup.      Organizing Poems in Scrivener Last week, I mentioned that I used Scrivener to type up my poems and tag them. I think you could do the same thing in…

  • Where in the World is Marcie Writing? Hollins

    You are probably sick of hearing me wax poetically about Hollins this week. But it’s been, and continues to be, such a pivotal place in my life. I feel so lucky to live so close and to be able to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves there.…

  • Writing Quote Wednesday: Nurturing the Writer

    “When earth is rich it bids defiance to droughts, yields in abundance, and of the best quality.”  –Letter from Thomas Jefferson to his daughter, Martha, from Philadelphia July 21, 1793 p. 22 THE DOMESTIC LIFE OF THOMAS JEFFERSON, letters compiled by Sarah Randolph   In this quote, Thomas Jefferson…

  • Artist’s Date: Hollins

    I had the opportunity this summer to audit a class through the Hollins Children’s Literature program. I’m a two-time alumna from this program earning my M.A. and my M.F.A. I’m lucky enough to get to return each summer for the free public event featuring authors, illustrators, scholars, editors and…

  • Mentor Text Tip Tuesday: Type Up the Text

    Using Mentor Texts Myself I learned a lot of tips by writing myself and knowing what helps me. In one class I took at Hollins, Lisa Rowe Fraustino encouraged us to read like writers. We took a look at Katherine Paterson’s BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA. She made us find a…

  • When Life Throws You a Curveball

    I’d hoped to spend my weekend hanging out in DC with my high school roommate that I haven’t seen in 20 years. I’d planned to eat Malaysian food with her (where we went to boarding school together), spend some quiet time in my hotel room doing some needed revisions…

  • Making Time to Write: Novel Beginnings

    Novel beginnings are scary. There is the unknown. Yes, I’ve written other (yet unpublished) novels, but starting something altogether new is difficult. There is a fear and wondering if I can even do it again. Normally I know where my novel is headed when I begin, but this time…

  • 12×12 in 12 Blog Party–12 Resources for the Picture Book Writer

      It’s time to celebrate a completed (or almost completed) 12 x 12 in ’12 picture book challenge. To celebrate, I’m posting 12 resources for picture book writers. 1. Rob Sanders’ blog–Check out Rob’s site. He often posts good writing tips for picture books writers and this year has…

  • Making Time to Write: Interview with E.W. Clark

    I’m starting an occasional feature on my blog on Making Time to Write Mondays where I will feature a busy writer (is there ever a not busy writer?)— writer who has to juggle many hats yet is still able to make time to write. Today’s featured writer is a…