Tonight is time to spend on The Creative Hour. I’ve been struggling, as have many others to create new stories. It’s not been difficult to get to know new characters. They’ve been speaking to me. Where the difficulty lies, for me at this point, is finding the hook that sets the story on fire, and…
Like many others I’ve been struggling to spend time on my dream. It’s so easy to go in all kinds of different directions. It’s not so easy to start all over again, to create something that adds and builds on that dream. Despite that, I am a writer. I have to write, and I will…
As you can tell I haven’t put much effort in to my blog for the last couple of years. I’ve decided that it’s time to get back on track, and dedicate the time necessary to my writing. I hope that you’ll stick with me and support me in my efforts. Respectfully submitted, Jodi
Today I start working on a new story. I’ve been playing with some thoughts and problems for my characters. The main thing for today is to learn more about the protagonist and antagonist. Besides hair and eye color, I need to learn how tall each is and whether they are male or female. That is…
Each day I spend some time on my writing, but I choose one part to concentrate on for the week. This week I’m working on the query for my submission to Nephele Tempest. While I do this I’m building on my world as I have built the world in my book. This means that I’m…
It’s now less than a month until The Surrey International Writers’ Conference. I’ve decided what to take for my blue pencil. The blue pencil is a sit down with a published author. This year I’m lucky enough to get feedback from best selling author Tess Gerritsen. Each year when I prepare to participate with the…
As I prepare my book for the Surrey International Writers, I am tempted to put it aside and write another story. If I were to do that, I would need to do it now and take it to my critique group. Last year, I took it to the group after I submitted it, and wished…
It seems many times that I reach that point when it’s time to stop working on my writing. After all, I could easily sit on the couch and read books other writers have published. There are many waiting for me. Multiple problems arise with this. I would be giving up on the characters who have…
We’ve made it through the horrendous year of 2017. It’s really hard to understand many of the things that happened with our country. I was called fragile and a snowflake, because I would not give in to condescending meanness. I enjoy a good discussion, and a person does not have to agree with me, however…
I wrapped up NaNoWriMo 2016 with just over an hour to spare. I’m happy with what I have to work with now. I believe it’s a good story for book 4 in my Naldo series. I ended with at least two extra friends. They will be the protagonists for book 5 in the series. One…
“Ah Pearl, this time we are going to do more than scare. It’s time to take our existence back.” Swirl patted her friend’s smooth frontal lobe. “Even better.” The spider rubbed the tips of two front legs together. “How do we begin?” “First, we must find out what their plans are and how many of…
Now, to get on with the plan, she thought. To begin with, I need to strengthen powers I already have. With the container of web cradled in her right arm, Swirl made her way through cold stone hallways that twisted and turned deep into the center of her prison fortress. At the end, a solid…
The window frame swung out and an image shimmered, then sharpened. Swirl stretched her arms toward the stronghold that had been her family home. “No!” The proceedings grew dismal. Strands of silk retreated through Papa Hal’s cavern and out into the dark sky. The fine trail spread to twinkling lights in the wide expanse. Spirals…
He did know what to do. But did he have enough of the magic the others depended on? Only one way to find out. He lifted both arms high overhead, then jerked them down into his body. With the right one, Finny reached to catch an unlit torch that flew from a sconce high in…
I’ve been working at every opportunity to polish my book and write my two page synopsis. At the Surrey International Writers Conference, I was lucky enough to have a blue pencil with “New York Times” best selling author, Robert Dugoni. He gave me some great pointers. At the same conference, the pitch I did with…
And so the new year begins. There is so much potential and I’m going to do my best to make sure it is fulfilled. I need to finish the edit of my first book and get it off for the latest attempt to find representation. After that I will work on my query, so I…
Progress is slow on the edit of my book “Not Too Late Forever”. I am working in the morning, on my break and at night. This week I need to take the first five pages of one chapter, as well as the latest edit of the synopsis. I am surprised that each edit, I have…
We live in amazing times. There are so many words that I could choose for the word of the week, but hope brings me the most joy. Thanks to my experiences at the Surrey International Writers Conference, my hope for my writing has been renewed. I think that is the strongest thing we can have….
I have been working on me and my attitude about life. One thing that I have found to help is to have a word to concentrate on and work to incorporate into me and who I am. If these musing help you, I would appreciate your thoughts. This week I’ve chosen Reality. I will work…
Get down and get inside! Mama Jack’s hands under his arms helped him slide to the ground as wind grew stirring the rubble. “This way.” Grandfather drew him to a side door. A chunk of the abutment, half the size of Finny’s head, flew up and toward him. It grazed his head, then crashed into…
It’s magnificent. Stretching from one side of the cavern to the other, strong stone turrets guarded on three sides. The fourth now lay, a mass of crumbled red stone, along the left side of the fortress. “Why’s it like that?” asked Finny. He clapped his hand over his mouth. It’s alright Sweetie, but we need…
I have much going on in my life right now. With the commitment to write a 2000 word chapter of an historical fiction every two weeks added to writing and editing on my other two stories, I am staying quite busy. It is interesting to fit this in around my day job and my community…
Finny forced his shoulders to relax, a little trick he and Joe had learned at camp when the older boys tried to scare them. It had convinced most of the kids that they weren’t afraid. The trembling in his body eased. Zeuflin’s padding absorbed the rest. The words helped, to, he settled down and found…
At the end of this week, I was reminded by a friend that we are all going through things we find difficult. That’s what I love about Facebook. I can go to those pages and read funny posts, share my trials and celebrate events from my own life. I can also commiserate with what others are…
“Then what is enough?” Finny asked. At first there was only silence, then Zeufin fluttered his wings and answered. “We have to believe.” “Believe? Believe in what?” Finny scratched his head, more confused than before. “Oh.” The softest whisper Finny had ever heard startled him. “We have to believe in you and you have to…