I’m off from the day job for this long, holiday weekend (thank goodness), but I plan to use my time wisely and get lots of writing-related things accomplished. On my to-do list (after updating the blog, of course): Finish my current WIP, tentatively titled “Diva in the Dugout.” It’s...

“There are a lot of good first lines. Line 1,157? Not so much.” I saw this tweet — or something like it — recently, and it got me thinking. (I believe it came from Don Maas, but don’t hold me to it. My Twitter feed is large and growing...

It’s my day off and I’m in Sedona. While the Boyfriend was playing tennis this morning,  I hit Starbucks to sneak in some writing time. I ended up doing more blogging than writing,  but I still appreciated what the barista wrote on my cup. At least I’m not the...

Today, we’re going to delve into all your dirty little secrets — reading secrets, that is. When Gwen Hernandez, one of my Starcatcher sisters, posted about sometimes not finishing a book she’s started, it got me thinking. Her argument against slogging through something she’s not into: Why waste valuable...

Sometimes you just need to retreat. No, I’m not talking about the kind of retreat where you curl up in a ball and hide from the world because rejection number three thousand five hundred and ninety-nine has just found its way to your inbox. I’m talking about the “lock...

The gals at the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood posted a form to look for a critique partner. When I tried to post my response in the comments, it didn’t show up. So here it is, in all its glory: NAME: Arlene Hittle Please E-MAIL me directly at ahittle90@gmail.com I write:...

Since RWA Nationals ended, much talk has been going on amongst my Starcatcher Sisters about fear … of submission,  rejection, inadequacy — you name it and we’ve probably felt it. Aislinn, who recently sold not one but two books, wrote an excellent post on writers’ fears just the other...

We’ve all heard someone say it, usually in connection with the Oscars … And if you’re like me, you probably snicker. “It’s an honor just to be nominated?” Yeah. R-i-i-ght. Well, I’m here to tell you, in the case of the RWA Golden Heart® award, it really is true. I’m...

In four days, I’ll be leaving for New York City. Not only is this my first trip to NYC, it’ll be my first RWA National conference. Needless to say, I’m nervous — and seeing all the chatter online isn’t easing my jitters. In an attempt to stay sane while...

I have a confession to make: I have story ADD. Raise your hand if, like me, you have trouble concentrating on one story at a time. … If characters start talking to you, demanding you tell their story now — even when you’re in the middle of another one....