My cozy-in-progress is having a personality crisis. I have the murder mapped out. I know who got killed, why they got killed, and whodunnit. But I’m floundering on the characters. They’re flat. They behave in odd ways that don’t feel authentic. In one case, I made my main character do something that felt completely wrong. … Continue reading Short Stories: Getting to Know My Characters
Category: Writing tips
Round Robins: Flexing Those Creative Muscles
When I was a teenager, my first summer job was as a camp counselor. Yep, it was the traditional tents in the woods, meals in a lodge, and campfires every evening. Around those campfires we sang songs and played games, one of which was Round Robin. If you’ve never participated in a round robin, the … Continue reading Round Robins: Flexing Those Creative Muscles
What Did You Expect from a Cozy Mystery?
On a Facebook page for cozy mysteries, a reader commented that she unsubscribed from other cozy lists because she was tired of fluffy dogs or knitting grandmas solving murder while the victim is forgotten in the quest to find the killer. “Oh, look! Another dead body.” Yawn. “Guess we should find out whodunnit.” I was … Continue reading What Did You Expect from a Cozy Mystery?
Am I Ready to Call Myself a Writer?
The other day someone asked me, “What do you do?” Ugh. I hate that question. I know that people ask it to be social and to start a conversation, but it makes my job synonymous with my identity. That’s great if you have a universally cool, unusual, or impressive job, but it’s so easy for … Continue reading Am I Ready to Call Myself a Writer?
Am I the Pigeon or the Statue? Setting my Writing Routine
from Jane Austen Is My Spirit Animal (Facebook) Yesterday I ran across this meme after initially seeing it, oh, so many moons ago. At about the same time, I was reminded of the saying, “Some days you’re the pigeon and some days you’re the statue.” What’s the connection, you ask? If you look closely, both … Continue reading Am I the Pigeon or the Statue? Setting my Writing Routine
Taking a break….
How do you get back on track when life pulls you away from your goal? How I want to write.... I’m facing that question right now. Family concerns are holding most of my attention and my writing is suffering, both here and on my book-in-progress. I’m having to make some choices about where I spend … Continue reading Taking a break….
How Harriet the Spy took my writing to the next level
Recently I revisited an old favorite from grade school: Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh. This classic children’s book stands out in my memory as one of the first books that made me want to be a writer. In case you aren’t familiar with the story, Harriet M. Welsch is a spunky sixth-grader with literary … Continue reading How Harriet the Spy took my writing to the next level
JOSIE'S COZIES 