Everyone familiar with National Novel Writing Month knows there are exactly two types of participants: the planet and the pantser. Each group is simply doing what works for them, whether that is extensive character sketches, maps, and 3,000 word outlines,
NaNoWriMo: Why “serious” writers should promote rather than dismiss
Many of you will shake your heads upon reading this. Or perhaps even roll your eyes. Maybe blow a raspberry, send a prayer heavenward. I’m going to say it anyway. NaNoWriMo season has arrived. This year, more than usual, I’ve
Writing Prompts to Keep Writers Writing
This past Wednesday I attended just one day of the Michigan Library Association’s annual conference, held in Grand Rapids, and learned lots of great library stuff. We recently started a monthly writing group for 6-12 graders at my library, and
What I’ve Been Reading
After then end of my first semester of graduate school (!) I threw myself back into reading, knowing I only have a little more than a month before things pick back up again. So far, I’ve managed to take quite