Brainstorming at the spa 2013

I’m typing this with my tears in my eyes because I’d been hoping to go myself, but March is shaping up to be more hectic than I thought and I won’t be able to get away this year. But for you lucky writers in Europe – or those of you who just need a thinly…

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Why writers should love Downton Abbey

Well, perhaps in all honesty, I should entitle this post: Why this writer loves Downton Abbey. Still, I see it’s become something of a trend recently. The Writer this month features the British period miniseries Downton Abbey on its cover, entitled “True to the Period” and the excellent Nathan Bransford blog had a recent post…

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Writing inspiration on the slopes

Okay, I have a few days off around the holidays, nearby Abruzzo is buried under snow, and my kids are begging me to ski. What’s a girl to do? Hopefully, when this post goes up, I’ll be breathing in the fresh mountain air while I’m swooshing down the slopes. Perhaps I’ll be sad at this…

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Interview with author and NaNoWriMo organizer Grace Tierney

Grace Tierney  is a mother and writer living in rural Ireland. Her excellent blog, Wordfoolery, examines rare and unusual words in the English language. Grace is a prolific writer, working on both novels and short stories.  I had the good luck to meet Grace (virtually) when we became critique partners, and I’ve enjoyed getting to…

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A room with a view

Okay, I know it. I’m an unabashed Wanderlust-afflicted-dreamer. I can’t help it. When I travel, I always find myself wondering what it would be like to live in the place I’m visiting. I enthuse about charming little cottages, ivy-covered buildings, white-washed homes along the sea. Mostly, I seek out – in the tradition of E.M.…

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Where do you develop your ideas for stories?

I love to read author interviews or talk about writing habits with other writers. What I find most fascinating is that there’s no one blueprint for writing a novel or short story. Everyone seems to have a different method for developing a story: hearing an idea in something said by an acquaintance, the kernel of…

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