Team Building, Team Building Activitiy

This is Your Sign to Time Travel through Middle Grade Books

It’s easy to forget how far we’ve come.  Sometimes it feels like we’ll never reach our goals. We see the accomplishments of others and wonder what’s taking us so long. We see how much road is ahead of us, but seldom take the time to look back and see where our road trip began…how far… Continue reading This is Your Sign to Time Travel through Middle Grade Books

Goal Setting, Writing Craft, Writing Routine

Unleash Your Inner Student: Kickstart Your Writing Goals This September

Hey writing friends! Please tell me you’ve stocked up on pencils, notebooks, and folders. Assure me that you’re ready to take on September with fresh stacks of index cards and post-its. Nothing says, I’m ready to get back into a writing routine, like old school back-to-school supplies. Even if you write in Scrivener. Even if you write… Continue reading Unleash Your Inner Student: Kickstart Your Writing Goals This September

The Crimson Five series

The Story Effect at the Olympics

There’s nothing like cheering for a team. Just ask any global citizen who loves watching the Olympic Games! The worldwide event brings out the ultimate fan in all of us. Whether we’re watching an obscure sport or a marquis event, we hold our breath through every race, dive, jump, twist, and flip. We gasp at… Continue reading The Story Effect at the Olympics

The Crimson Five series

Downloads for Goal-Focused Kids

One of the things I love about writing is that it’s a form of self-expression. When we write, we can’t help but reveal parts of ourselves to our readers. Maybe it’s not an overt reveal. In the case of fiction, it’s usually a more subtle reveal. But still, it’s there. Authors include hidden messages in… Continue reading Downloads for Goal-Focused Kids

The Crimson Five series

5 Years for Flip the Silver Switch!

The years since my second book was published are flying by faster that the Crimson Five’s aero bus… the one that transports them to the Piedmont Challenge Global Championships in Quebec!  To celebrate, last night I started re-reading it. It’s kind of strange how the details and memories of writing this book came crashing back! … Continue reading 5 Years for Flip the Silver Switch!

Creativity, Writing Routine

4 Ways (and Walls) to Combat Writer’s Block

Writer’s block is a real thing. It doesn’t happen to me often, but when it does it’s usually because I’m sitting at my computer, trying too hard.  Here’s what I do to combat that: Have a plan.  When I have a general idea of what I’m writing about before I sit down at my computer,… Continue reading 4 Ways (and Walls) to Combat Writer’s Block

Odyssey of the Mind, Publishing, The Crimson Five series

Celebrate the Middle

If you’re a big dreamer like I am, sometimes it’s hard to see small wins or milestones for what they are: a big deal. We sometimes get so hyper-focused on the end game—our ultimate, long-term goals, that we forget to see the in-between, smaller achievements as a huge deal too. I used to be like… Continue reading Celebrate the Middle

Publishing

Publishing Expectations vs Reality: Part 3

Hi there! Thanks for stopping back for the final installment of Publishing Expectations vs Reality! In case you missed them, you can find Part 1 here and Part 2 here.  As always, please keep in mind these are my experiences, and those of many other authors, but certainly not indicative of every author’s experiences. Got it? Okay…… Continue reading Publishing Expectations vs Reality: Part 3