The Definition of a “Creative” I’ve been hearing the term “Creative” bandied about a lot as a noun. As in, “she’s a creative.” Or, “This is the way creatives think.”  I love the idea that there’s recognition that what we … Continue reading →

Role Models for Understanding I read an interview with a famous literary writer who explained she was reading a famous literary classic on a recent flight. Her seatmate, on the other hand, was playing a video game on her phone. … Continue reading →

There IS No Pattern to Writing Success You’ve read about the “successful” author, right? The one whose debut novel gets snapped up immediately with a six-figure advance? But you’ve also heard the wonder stories of the author whose 10th book finally … Continue reading →

Stay Away From Shoulds There are a lot of shoulds in the writing world. You should write a certain way. You should pitch a certain way. You should publish a certain way. Only, “a certain way” is never just one way. One cursory glance online and you can see … Continue reading →

What to Read or What Not To Read? My dilemma: read new books? Or re-read old favourites?  I have a limited time to read (sadly…). What is the best use of it? To return to something I love? To take … Continue reading →

Advice in All its Forms I did what I said I’d never do… fall into the trap of believing that celebrities aren’t the same as the rest of us… I read an interview with actor/producer Reese Witherspoon where she says … Continue reading →

Adjusting Writing Expectations I have an innate sense of time. Without a watch, I can often tell the time. I can also estimate how long an activity will take, and when to leave to get somewhere. I’m not perfect, but … Continue reading →

And Feeling Validated When I first watched Titanic, I was, predictably, emotionally crushed—but I also felt a jarring discomfort. (And no, it wasn’t whether Jack could have fit on the door!) It was at the end, when an old Rose dies, … Continue reading →

And Power of Words My daughter’s friend told a story: her dad was interviewing a teen boy for a job at a paddleboard shop. It was the kid’s first interview. He was nervous. So when he was asked why he … Continue reading →

When Optimism Isn’t Always Enough I was chatting with a few author friends. We’ve all published at least one novel (some have published more) but none of us is a household name (except, well, in our own households. :)) We keep … Continue reading →