A Whitewashed Tomb Nominated for Indie Book Awards
Today, Indie Book Awards announced their final decisions for their 2018 awards, and A Whitewashed Tomb made the cut for finalists in the Young Author category.
Novel Now Open for Audiobook Auditions
Many of my readers have asked whether or not A Whitewashed Tomb will be made into an audiobook. The answer is yes! As of this week, narrators can audition to read A Whitewashed Tomb via ACX.com. When complete, the recording will be available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes.
New Skillshare Class on Creating Fictional Characters
My newest Skillshare class, Making A Hero: Protagonist Development for Film & Fiction, launched today! In it, I share the questions and prompts that were pivotal for my own writing process.
Book Signing at Linda’s Office Supplies
I absolutely love supporting local businesses, and this particular business loves supporting local authors. Win-win! I was thrilled to do my first ever book signing at the adorable Goshen favorite, Linda's Office Supplies (closed as of 2020). I was very grateful for those in my community who stopped by to say hello and support me.
Consistency & The Slippery Muse
When my dad was in the process of writing his first book, I’d see him working at it every single day, even if just for a few minutes. He’d sit there in his robe with his coffee before heading off to work, adding some small tidbit to his story. That’s cool, I’d think, but my muse doesn’t work like that.
My Debut Novel is Now Available!
This is it! After years of planning, writing, and editing, A Whitewashed Tomb is now available on Amazon.com! And since I think you should be able to bring your personal book collection with you wherever you go, I've made it so that if you buy the paperback you get the kindle version for free. Happy reading!
The Fault Paradox
Flaws. As writers, we’re told again and again that our characters need flaws to be believable, interesting, human. Are they not somehow endearing when manifested in the ones we love? Mr. Darcy, the proud; Hermione, the know-it-all; Sherlock Holmes, the drug-addicted sociopath. What a happy and bizarre paradox it is to know that our flaws can make us beautiful!
Did You Sleep Well Last Night? If Not, Your Creativity May Suffer For It.
I remember the first time I tried to pull an all-nighter in college. I learned a valuable lesson that night: you can’t sacrifice sleep for creativity or productivity; the two go hand in hand.
Lessons Learned from Ruined Sculpture
It is excruciating to destroy something you’ve made with craft and strain and love, but I believe that if I am willing to let go of something good, something great will replace it.
Alone ≠ Lonely
Silence and “alone time” are critical components of unlocking the wealth of creativity tucked away within us. If we are in constant connection with something outside ourself, how can we give our own muse the attention it needs to speak and be heard?
Netflix Might Not Be A Waste of Time
As a writer, I sometimes fall into the temptation to think that my stories don’t matter; that they’re somehow a lesser hobby that can never compare to the important deeds done by others in more sophisticated careers paths. Every time this happens, however, I come back to the same realization: we need stories.
We Made the 3% - A Whitewashed Tomb, Draft 1 Complete!
I once read that some 97% of aspiring writers never finish the book they set out to write. In other words, only 3% succeed in bringing their unspoken story to life.
Your Protagonist & You
Your protagonist is not you. He or she is a fictional character, a figment of your imagination, and letting go of your insecurities is one of the best things you could do for your story.
New Skillshare Class on Story Structure
I am happy to announce the publication of my second online class, Story Structure: 8 Essentials for Outlining Your Novel or Script! Only 25 minutes long, this bite-sized course is a great way to kick writer’s block in the face and stay on track as you build your conflict towards the most emotionally satisfying climax.