Define yourself as an author, no matter where you are in the publishing process. Stand like a tree trunk in that belief from the beginning of your career. Declare your essence. Remember what your mission is as a writer, and affirm daily why you write. Define yourself: 1) Writer: n. person who writes; author. Syn: wordsmith To write: mark paper or some other surface by means of a pen, pencil, etc. with symbols, letters or words. Syn. to create 2) Author: n. writer, esp. of boo

My mind has a curious way of sniffing out, first, the conflict-based thoughts hiding in its nooks and crannies, then pulling up a comfortable chair and dwelling in worry for as long as I will allow. When I notice this happening, I try to re-direct my thoughts to peaceful ones. But some days positivity doesn’t stand a chance against negativity and my mind is back in the corner rooting out chaos. Why does conflict have such a strong pull on my attentions? It is as though I hav

Give and receive in the spirit of generosity. Find where the energy is in the text and offer your appreciation before you express prescriptive comments for revision. How to introduce your writing sample to your writer's group: Provide a one minute summary of the narrative action. Let this summary be neutral. What kind of story is this? What defining choice(s) does the main character face? What is the conflict, crisis and resolution? Tips for how to give feedback: Read the tex

On the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, I share my notes about writing and revising my debut novel, ANYA'S WAR. I journaled about process during the several years before the novel's publication date (February 2011). Here is an entry from September 2009: I’ve decided to undergo another global rewrite of ANYA'S WAR 25 days before final revisions are due to my editor, Liz Szabla of Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan. I am in seculsion for a week in my studio and have spent two of the s