I was really taken with this image…. Stacks of books with a small handwritten note, ripped from a page, and peeking out from between two novels with a small heart and the inked “life is beautiful.” It perfectly captures ME. I was always a bookworm growing up, and found quiet refuge in reading. As …
Tag Archives: Writing
Writing with Honesty
From the CanLit Queen…
“The only way you can write the truth is to assume that what you set down will never be read. Not by any other person, and not even by yourself at some later date. Otherwise you begin excusing yourself. You must see the writing as emerging like a long scroll of ink from the index …
Book Launch of The Poisoned Pawn!
My friends Tara Hollister and Sarah Atchison accompanied me to the book launch of Peggy Blair’s The Poisoned Pawn at the Orange Art Gallery in Ottawa. It was a very fun evening with a Cuba theme and not only did we get to chat with Peggy again, Tara was able to cozy up to the Mayor …
Any way to the coast…
Just Keep Going! Ignore your inner nagging thoughts. They are seldom accurate perceptions of what you are actually achieving. It is deeply unfair to criticize your navigation skills when taking a journey into unknown territory. Try not to demoralize yourself. I call my first draft “the Lewis and Clark.” Any freaking way to the coast – …
The only writing rules you’ll ever need!
Hi! You may have noticed that I’ve been missing in action for a few weeks – but with good reason. I have been working almost daily on polishing my novel. I have even found some readers to provide editing and feedback before I start sending out my manuscript to publishers (with fingers crossed and a …
Novels…A woman’s universe?
PUBLISHING When it comes to novels, it’s a man’s world but a woman’s universe JOHN BARBER From Saturday’s Globe and Mail Published Friday, Mar. 09, 2012 When Mary Anne Evans wanted to be taken seriously as a novelist, she gave herself a man’s name and wrote an essay, Silly Novels by Lady Novelists, lacerating the …
CBC Books – Canada Writes – Poetry Prize!
Competition is now open! Deadline to submit: May 1 at 11:59 p.m. ET This prize is awarded once a year to the best original, unpublished, poem or poetry collection submitted to the competition. All Canadians can participate. The competition is blind. A jury composed of well-known and respected Canadian authors will select a 1st place …
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The Power of Simple Words, Animated
by Maria Popova Getting from “no coordinates exist like one’s domicile” to “there’s no place like home.” “Use the right word, not its second cousin,” Mark Twain admonished. “Use short words, short sentences and short paragraphs,” David Ogilvy advised. Last week, my friends at TED launchedTED-Ed — a wonderful new series of short animated videos for high school …
Novel writing tips – PLOT
The following is an essay that Sarah Pekkanen, author of Skipping a Beat and These Girls, wrote for Writer Unboxed, a writing website that I will be adding to my personal resources as I finalize my own novel. I thought her writing tips were very useful – particularly with regard to making sure scenes have …