• Book of Stars: Positivity in 2014

    Last week I posted a very self-celebrating post of all of the writing things I’ve accomplished this year. One of my goals this year is to not be scattered to the wind and be very focused. Last week was also a week of rejections for me. I got several,…

  • Making Time to Write: PiBoIdMo Prep

      November is quickly approaching and one really important thing I do in November? PIBOIDMO. Also known as Picture Book Idea Month. I don’t usually do NaNoWriMo—National Novel Writing Month—where one attempts to do an entire draft of a novel in the month of November. PiBoIdMo is more up…

  • Making Time to Write: Acceptance, Not Excuses

    We writers can come up with lots of excuses. Excuses not to write. Excuses for why we are too busy, too tired, too discouraged. Trust me, I’ve been whining about some of these excuses lately. I’ve had some days where I haven’t been able to write. At all. This…

  • We’re All in This Together: Favorite Writing Quotes

    We’re All in This Together is back! I asked everyone if they had a favorite writing quote that they put near their computer or nearby to inspire them. I hope you will be inspired by reading all of the quotes. EW Clark YA novelist ewclark.net I don’t!  What I…

  • Writing Quote Wednesday: Being Busy

    “Another thing that estranges us from our dreams is everyday distraction. Rarely is the distraction so large you notice it. I’ve never met someone who says, “I was unable to write my great American novel because my house burned down.” Instead, I’ve met hundreds of people who tell me…

  • 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…

  • Writing Quote Wednesday: Progress

    “The most important component in happiness in any area of your life is the ability to make steady progress toward a significant goal.”  Michael Hyatt Podcast Episode 49, 3 Components of Job Satisfaction One thing I love about gardening is that you can see steady progress. Before buds even…

  • Artist’s Date: Library of Congress

    A few months ago, I met my husband in Washington, DC while he was on a business trip. We usually try to take in a few sites in DC each year that we’ve never been to. This artist’s date was not taken alone, and I enjoyed wandering through the…

  • Artist Date: Monticello

    A few months ago, I wrote about how Artist Dates, in the manner that Julia Cameron describes them, don’t always have to be done alone. I will be highlighting a few of my recent Artist Dates each Monday in a new Artist Date series. I know the recommendation is…