Our human minds are similar to equines in that we have two sides of the brain I like to call creative and critical. As a writer, there is the creative writing side and the cut-paste-transform side. Horses are much the same with the thinking and reacting sides of the brain. This is important to understand…
One sunny, winter day at Mt. Spokane, my brother and two family friends thought it would be a good idea for me to cowgirl up and ski down the “big hill.” I was in early elementary and finished morning ski lessons. They convinced me it was safe to ride the ski lift with them,…
Gathering knowledge is like gathering cattle. The cowgirl pays attention, not only to the herd, but the other riders, their equipment, and their horses. We have a need to allow newly learned information to soak into our minds as does our colts. Many hands, I learned, makes for a light load. Riding drag produces grit….
Women Writing the West Conferences are inspiring and uplifting. Every year I come back charged and rearing to go. I love to visit with old friends, make new ones, and deepen all relationships with the women and men of our WWW community. This year, the conference was in Santa Fe. I flew into Albuquerque Wednesday…
It was six weeks when I heard back from a publisher about my latest work-in-progress. Waiting to hear back from a publisher tests not only one’s patience but self-esteem, too. While waiting and soaking in my lesson in patience, biting my fingernails, I was hunkered down under my fair tent as rain tumbled down during…
I used to hate editing. Now I love it! Due to Jerry Jenkins and his ferocious editing techniques (I am currently a founding member in the Jerry Jenkins Writer’s Guild), Self-editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King, Revision and Self-Editing or Publication by James Scott Bell, and Doctor Dennis Hensley I have…
A Writer’s Inspiration. Character’s come alive to writers in their imaginations, as do plot and theme. But at times, it can be a big challenge to keep everything straight. Computer programs for authors to keep track of scenes and charts for characters are available at the writer’s fingertips, but I got hooked on character…
What’s so important about a name? How do we find names for our characters? How does Cash turn into Kash? Recently, a friend and fellow author borrowed my horse’s name Cash and flipped it to Kash for a recent character name she was searching for. I know I’ve borrowed our family name, Elizabeth, for my…
Have you ever wanted to write? Fiction? Non-fiction? Short Stories? Memoir? About women and girls in the west…west of the Mississippi? I recently came back from our WWW conference in Redmond, OR. What a trip! I mean both journey and event. I met agents and editors, I was the committee chair for this year’s…
Chores won’t kill you! Chores create a strong foundation for their future. Responsibility, accountability, and basic life skills begin with sweeping the floor, scrubbing the toilet, doing dishes, and washing windows. Boredom is a choice. I know when my cousins once complained of being bored and my aunt day them do chores all day. Did they…
Part Four: Editing––Demon Hunter Writing is the easy part. Our minds are in the creative mode. Our fingers peck at the keyboard with unfailing speed. Smiles bloom on our faces, eyes dancing as creativity pours out. Our characters are dancing, fighting, loving, caring, and sometimes even in a fit of rage. They are talking, whispering,…
Part Three: Theme, Story Line, and Three-Act Structure Do you remember me stating previously that Nathan’s character and world sheets had vanished? Well they remain in the depth of some dump site, but Nathan was able to rewrite most of it. Unfortunately they are not as detailed as before, but he’s off to a good…
Mentoring a Realm Beyond My Own: Part Two: Characters and World Building As I stated previously, I am not a fantasy writer and don’t know much about world building. But I’m on a crash course of how-tos, quickly learning organization is the key. After scanning Nathan’s notes and seeing he had nearly completed…
What a Women Writing the West (WWW) conference we had this year in Golden, CO! I knew it was going to be a great conference when I walked into the hotel and was greeted by a life-sized Painted Pony. Yee Haw. My cowgirl boots busted into a line dance as the front desk attendant gave…
I’m sitting here at the airport in Spokane, WA. I really don’t care to fly. But I’m on my way to Golden, CO via Denver for the annual Women Writing the West conference; my tummy flutters and my nerves tingle. Yet, I’m excited because I’m pitching my latest manuscript to an editor. I met her…
End of content
End of content
