Blog
Writing Tips: Idea Book
As a writer, I can say the single greatest tool we have is pen and paper. The next best thing? A whole notebook full of random ideas, plot sketches, character notes and general observations of the world. Your "idea book" is a resource beyond a how-to book you can find...
NaNoWriMo Novel “finished!”
I reached the 50,000 words for National Novel Writing Month within the 1st and 30th of November, but my novel was far from being over. Now, I've reached 77,000 words and can say the story is all wrapped up nice and tight and actually "finished." Thank you everyone who...
Research Notes: 40s Fashion
Is there anything classier than 1940s fashion? Not in my opinion. The hats, the gloves, the wavy hair...This style became iconic of the war years on the homefront. The Roaring 20s were all about the flapper dresses and the 30s saw an emergence of new materials (rayon)...
The technology of today…
I normally don't do this: I prefer to look at the positives in life and keep this blog writing and history-oriented. But today I need to complain. Just a little. I spent the entire weekend trying to get my wireless internet back online. There was nothing wrong with my...
I can’t rave enough…
Shameless free advertisement for History Channel here. The recent WWII in HD special, a 10-hour series of full-color, restored WWII footage, was simply amazing. The series follows the lives of 12 men and women who served in the 4 years of America's involvement....
NaNoWriMo: Accomplished!
I reached just over 53,000 words in 28 days. Not too shabby! So what does this mean now? Well, aside from officially getting to post the neat little picture to the left, I have a new (mostly completed) manuscript. To pitch this novel to the publishers I'm aiming for,...
Book Review: The Blind Assassin
A novel within a novel, within a novel…within a novel. Only Margaret Atwood could do this. That’s my conclusion, at least. Published in 200 by Anchor Books, The Blind Assassin, is a book with countless different dynamics and unexpected twists. To be completely honest,...
Confessions of a Book-aholic
Goodness, I love the feel of new books. I love the smooth binding, the crisp, fresh off the printer smell, the silky pages and how easily they flip under your fingertips… Walking around a bookstore gives me a high, a sense of wonderment unlike any other. I can’t help...
NaNoWriMo Update
At more than 37,000 words in my National Novel Writing Month project, I get the inpsiration to expand my plot, add this, add that...So I imagine this will be much, much longer than the 50,000 words for November. Thus, I know this will not be "finished" by November 30....
Past the 30,000 mark!
In efforts to avoid working on the much-needed editing of my other WIP, I have been getting lots of "NaNo-ing" done. I passed the 30,000-word mark today and am getting to the "good" parts of the novel. Things are moving faster, emotions higher, much more at stake... I...