To plot, or not to plot? It’s the perennial question writers everywhere eventually face. The internet is rife with articles waxing poetic about the virtues of Plotting vs. Pantsing. It’s the Empire vs. Rebellion of the writing world. Do you plan out your story before you write? Then you’re a Plotter. Do you let the muse guide you along the journey without a plan, or maybe with an end-point in…
April 24th is Indie Bookstore Day and to celebrate, I wanted to shine a light on my favorite local indie, Blue House Books in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Blue House Books is everything you want from a local bookstore: not only filled with amazing books from every genre you love to read, but owned and operated by a warm and welcoming bookseller. Samantha Jacquest is a one-woman small business maven who started…
One of the things that new writers hear about all the time is the need to find a brand. As if authors are breakfast cereals that can be boiled down to zingy catchphrases like ‘delicious and nutritious’ or ‘heart-healthy.’ Not gonna lie, the idea of defining my author brand was the stuff of nightmares. But it was a nightmare I knew I’d have to face… someday. Well that someday came…
There were—and are—many stories that inspired me to dive into writing, and specifically writing fantasy. From THE LORD OF THE RINGS to THE WHEEL OF TIME, these are expansive universes filled with heroes and villains, wild magic and desperate battles. But few stories made me feel like writing was an actual thing I could do than the Old Kingdom Series by Garth Nix. I first discovered Garth Nix in high…
This week’s topic is all about highlighting the resources that helped me along the way to publishing. The websites and podcasts I’ve listed below were (and are) all invaluable sources of information and support in a journey that can often be a lonely one. So saddle up and read on for my favorites: First Draft with Sarah Enni There is so much here to love about Sara Enni’s podcast. She…
There are so many articles out there documenting the trials and tribulations of the publishing industry. And for good reason. The journey from first draft to published book is a loooonggg one—often filled with crushing blows. And it can be hard to shout out about the highlights. Not only because it can feel cocky, but also because—until your book actually gets released—no one really understands what the big deal is….
Many, many (many) years ago, I was a soccer player. Mind you, I wasn’t amazing—I knew I’d never play professionally (no matter how many times my Dad made me run around the block with a tire strapped to my waist. Seriously.) But I was good enough to play for my college. My non-athlete friends always looked at me like I was a mad-woman when I came back from practice dripping…
Nancy Johnson joined us this week to talk about her upcoming novel, THE KINDEST LIE, coming out in February. Read Denny’s interview with Nancy here. Also this week, Lyn interviewed Denise Williams, author of HOW TO FAIL AT FLIRTING. Watch the interview at our Instagram page. And finally a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Denny. O the Oprah Magazine named WILD WOMEN AND THE BLUES one of 2021’s most anticipated historical novels….
When I look back through the years, thinking about where I found the inspiration and the drive to become a writer, it’s impossible not to think about my childhood. As the youngest of four kids, I spent countless hours chasing after my older brothers, trying to weasel my way into their Nerf games and Lego battles. (Sure, I have an older sister too, but the eight-year age gap between us…
We’re sharing our best writing tips this month here on The Debutante Ball, and since this happens to coincide with National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo or NaNo for short), I thought I’d tailor my advice for the NaNo folks out there. November is quickly running out and for many writers it’s make or break time. So what do you do if you still have 10-20k left on your word count…
