This month, I am so thankful to introduce one of the first people to welcome me into the writing community on Instagram, author Tracy Brown. Not only is Tracy a fabulously talented writer, but she is also one of the most encouraging people I’ve ever met. She is a wonderful cheerleader of other authors, and her book recommendations are the main reason why my To Be Read list never gets any smaller.
Read moreI recently heard an interview with Parks and Rec co-creator Michael Schur (also a writer for The Office, creator of The Good Place, and co-creator of Brooklyn Nine Nine) where he talks about the list of ideas-in-waiting he keeps on set for those moments when a show runs short or a scene needs a quick drop-in joke. He calls this list his “Candy Bag.”
I think this is brilliant, because A) Who doesn’t love Candy? and B) It’s a great way to reframe all those random snippets writers have floating around. It might be a scene or infodump that was cut for space, or a joke that wasn’t working in its current context. Now, instead of feeling bad about deleting scenes or “killing your darlings,” you can simply think of it as adding to your Candy Bag.
So, in the spirit of Parks and Rec, I present to you my own Candy Bag for this blog, culled from three years of various notebooks, journals and sticky notes. (Unexpected added benefit, my desk is now much cleaner!)
Read moreThis month is all treat and no trick. I am so pleased to welcome the wonderful Saffron Amatti to the Lunchtime Poll!
Saffron Amatti is the author of the Lucas Rathbone Mysteries, a series of historical cozy mysteries with a ghostly twist set in 1920s England. She lives in a rather pretty village in Derbyshire, UK, where she spends an unhealthy amount of time thinking about how to kill people and (nearly) get away with it. This is almost entirely in relation to her writing, but she keeps her family on their toes by throwing a little doubt in occasionally.
Read moreOne my all-time favorites! I got this recipe from the now-defunct Wondertime magazine. I have been making these since my kids since they were toddlers and I can attest they are a hit with all ages. Enjoy!
Read moreLast week, I participated in a writing challenge that asked “What if your main character was a villain?” Now, some of you may argue that Corinne is already a villain, but in the spirit (see what I did there?) of the season, I’ve written a dark fairytale reimagining Corinne’s fate.
Read on, if you dare…
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