Writing a book takes more than a great idea. Earning the esteemed title of “Published Author” comes only to those who are as consistent as the sunrise and tenacious as a pit bull. Life will get in the way as you attempt to write a book, so learn to expect distractions. Sickness, job issues, family … Continue reading Regaining Creativity
When I enter a room full of books, the smell of old pressed paper with hints of almond and vanilla delights my senses. I like to stroll through each row and listen to my inner spirit that inevitably whispers, “Pick that one.” No, I’m not a book whisperer, but the first thing that captures my … Continue reading The Almighty Cover
I love conferences. I meet some of the most fascinating, yet odd, people there; and coincidently I feel right at home. I always have high expectations that some literary agent, publisher, or celebrity will walk up to me and say, “Hey I know you. You’re Terri Whitmire. You wrote that great book… blah blah blah.” … Continue reading I Love Conferences
2017 is here! And if you ask me, it couldn’t have come soon enough. It seemed every time I clicked on Yahoo news or Flipboard, there was more bad news: mass shootings, natural disasters, deadly attacks, Zika virus, police shootings, riots, drugs, violence, politics, conspiracies; the list goes on and on. My own household was … Continue reading Happy New Year
What's holding you back? Acknowledge the fear... then do it anyway.
How can improved writing skills get you the job you want? Inc.com reveals the trait that all employers look for. "We know that businesses are spending billions each year on remedial writing training, and in a modern workplace that requires employees to spend hours each day sending emails, writing reports, and interacting with clients, weak writing … Continue reading Why Businesses Want Good Writers
Every now and then, I Google my name just to see what comes up. Just to be clear, seeing your name pop up on the World Wide Web can be an inflating or deflating experience. Yes, it’s pretty cool to see your name appear, but it has it negatives. This past week, I looked at … Continue reading Who Are You?
Many of my clients ask how long their books should be and how many words to include in a chapter. There really are no hard-and-fast rules. It depends on your audience and how much of their life they are willing to give to your story. Are you writing a novella or a novel?A novella is … Continue reading How Long?
Writing is one of the few activities where you’re alone… but not really. If you’re a creative writer like me, then you will understand that we live in a world with hundreds of characters racing through our minds. For each new project, we get to decide who our characters will be, what they will look … Continue reading You Are Not Alone
Do you struggle with dialogue? There's an easy fix. It is so very important that your characters speak to your readers. Some say there should be dialogue within the first two pages of a book, but it’s really up to the author and the nature of the book. I’ll say this: When I read a … Continue reading Say What?
