Blogging about my books, the writing process, mindset, and anything else I feel like sharing.
It's easy to think that in order to write a detective story, you have to be a detective. But this isn't the case at all! In fact, many famous detective stories were written by people who had no real-world experience in detective work. So how do they do it? How can someone write a detective story when they're not a detective? The answer is simple: They use their imagination, and they do their research!
Read MoreWhat is crime fiction? This is a question that has been asked by many people over the years. The answer, however, is not always simple. Crime fiction can be broadly defined as any story that revolves around a crime or criminal act. This could include murder mysteries, thrillers, and suspense novels, just to name a few.
Read MoreThe process of writing a novel can be mysterious and daunting. If you're ready to take the plunge, these tips will help you plot your book in record time. Plotting is the process of exploring your characters and setting, seeing where they might go in the story. You'll need to have a solid idea of who your heroine or hero is and what makes them tick before you begin writing. Knowing the overall theme of your book will help you determine the direction that your plot should take while keeping you focused while you write.
Read MoreI’ve been using Google Docs for my writing projects since I started writing seriously back in 2016. I love that it’s an online program so my work is automatically stored in the Cloud. No more remembering to back up my files. Thank you, Google!
Read MoreI had the privilege of reviewing an advance copy of Pitch Like Hollywood: What You Can Learn from the High-Stakes Film Industry by Peter Desberg and Jeffrey Davis. The following is an excerpt from (pp. 109-115, McGraw Hill, February 2022).
The reason anxiety feels so horrible when you’re pitching is simple: You haven’t read the manual. You’re not using it the way it’s evolved since a saber-toothed tiger first chased Homo erectus.
Read More*Guest post by Sophia Young.
Trying to separate work and life can be particularly challenging for writers. You want to go to work to practice your craft, and then return home to practice some more. Given the constant nature of the creative process, the stress that comes with it may bleed into your daily life. It can be hard to disentangle the emotions and exhaustion associated with creating and building new worlds from your everyday life with family and friends.
Read MoreA few years ago I wrote a series of 12 blog posts about story planning. They were quite detailed and seemed to get a lot of views on Pinterest, so I ended up combining them into what I called “The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Novel.” I had written the posts over 12 days with each day focusing on a different step in the story planning process.
These days, I tend to want to plan my novels a little quicker than 12 days, so I thought I’d write a follow-up post and share some of the strategies I use now.
Read MoreAbout two years ago, I was chatting with Becca Syme, creator of the Better Faster Academy while taking the course “Write Better Faster.” The course—which I highly recommend along with Becca’s “Dear Writer” books and super helpful YouTube videos—uses CliftonStrengths to determine what will work best for writers based on their individual strengths.
When I had my one-on-one session with Becca, I remember saying, “I have no desire to write a book a month. That’s just not me.” Well, two years later, I’ve continued learning about my CliftonStrengths report and it turns out, it is me!
Read MoreHi, I'm Michelle! Writing is a passion of mine. I love to entertain and educate through my writing. I started out writing about business and money and have moved on to thrillers and picture books.
Spending time with family is what I'm all about. Life's too short!
I have two amazing sons who love Lego and ninjas...and TV (sigh)!! We read a ton of storybooks to make up for the TV thing. One of the best ways to explain things is through stories of course.
If it was up to me, I'd have chips and dip for dinner every night with a super dark chocolate bar to round out the meal...and maybe an apple! It's a good thing I've got kids and a husband. They keep me responsible (and healthy).
