10 Easy Ways to Improve Your Writing

An article I read about improving your life started me thinking about similar easy ways to improve your writing.

1. Start Small.

Big projects can sometimes be overwhelming. Break it into bite-size pieces. I'm guilty of stressing over not writing the 20 pages a week I'd planned. Setting goals smaller, say 3 pages a day, will get near the same results, with less stress. And if you don't get the exact amount done, don't beat yourself up. Even one paragraph or page is one more than you had before, and 500 or so words closer to your final word count.

2. Believe in Yourself

A bad review can hurt. But that inner critic who tries to hold you back and tear down your efforts (you're a lousy writer, you'll never get anywhere, why are you wasting your time?...) can be worse. Believe in you. Think on what you've accomplished and move forward. One rejection is just that. It's not the end. Don't let rejection stalk you. Send that story or project to another publication and move on to the next one. Having at least a few stories circulating (some say 10 or 12 if you can) will prevent you from obsessing over one.

3. Learn From Others

Success comes from listening to others who have already been there. Check out the experiences of other writers in your genre. Study the works of writers you admire to see how they did it. No matter how many years you've been writing, there is always something new to learn.

4. Review Yourself.

A little self-evaluation can be good to gauge where you are in your writing goals and progress. Be honest; don't be afraid to point out your shortcomings, but also decide on how to improve them. Maybe you've only been published in lower paying markets and are afraid to move to the next level. Pick a market you haven't written for; study the content, and work on a story to submit. Becoming a better writer doesn't mean treading water; test the waters in new markets.

5. Make Goals.

Goals keep you from stagnating, but make them reasonable. Start with one goal, like planning to get published in a new magazine in your genre, or working on a story in a different genre or field. When that goal is accomplished, make a new goal. Keep moving forward and don't stress over how long achieving that goal may take. It isn't a race. Work at the pace you feel comfortable with.

6. Seize the Day!

Swallow your fears. Some opportunities only come once. Don't be afraid to take a chance. You never know where it will lead.

7. Don't Fear Mistakes.

You'll make mistakes; you'll write less than stellar stories. We all have. It's one mistake. Even if you make the same mistake, it's not the end of the world. Learn from them. Every mistake only makes you stronger.

8. Don't Be a Victim

Self-pity leads to depression, which leads to inactivity, self-doubt and can be a vicious spiral that robs you of your energy and happiness. No matter your circumstances, there is no reason to sit still and be unproductive. Don't make excuses, do something. There are tons of free resources available. Use the Internet and computers at the library. See if there is a niche in your community where you can volunteer or provide a service. See #5.

9. Enjoy Yourself

We all can't be Rockefellers or live like them. Always thinking the grass is greener on the other side will never make you satisfied. Look closer and you'll find crabgrass and weeds there, too. Enjoy your faith, friends, family, pets, and hobbies. Shut off the computer. Make time to exercise and have some fun. You'll feel better and be more productive.

10. Think Positive.

It takes less energy to think positive, plus it'll add more to your life and your writing.

** Have any favorite tips or lifestyle changes you've made to improve your writing? Please share!

Scrabble Tag

I love playing Scrabble(R) so it's funny that Helen from Straight from Hel tagged me.

According to Helen, this tag is called either “The Love of the Written Word” or the “Scrabble Tag.” The rules are:

List at least five things you do to support and spread a love of the written word, then tag five people. (If you list something that touches youngsters, you get a bonus letter!)

Okay the five things I try to do to support writing:

1. Feature writers on the blog and share interviews with them.

2. Invite writers to share their writing tips.

3. Try to write original posts on different aspects of writing.

4. Mingle posts on writing with posts about miniatures and other topics for variety. It draws non-writers to the blog who may find the book posts interesting also.

5. Seek advice and encourage other writers to share their knowledge. I realize I really don't know it all. ha!

Five people I'm tagging are:
* Chester Campbell
(oops, sorry Chester, I see Katie tagged you first. ha!)
* JR Turner
* Mayra Calvani
* Pam Ripling
* Emma Larkins

Have fun!

Eye Candy: Preview Miniature Witch's Greenhouse

I've been awfully slow about getting this project close to being done, though I've been making things and working on it forever (or it feels like that. ha!)

This is the bay window shop in the Houseworks Street of Shops set. I love this set and was thrilled to get it one year during Hobby Builder Supply's 50% off sale. Great buy!

The double window shop, is now home to my Teapot Shoppe. You can see it by clicking the link at the Verstraete Miniatures Gallery. The corner shop is going to be my witch's bakery.

Witchy Wallpaper

The first obstacle that prevented me from going any further was the wallpaper. Finally, when I saw this "UGLY" scrapbook paper in the clearance section, I knew I'd found the perfect thing! (Egads, believe it or not, it's supposed to be Christmas holly. More like a Tim Burton Christmas I'd say).

The floor is made of painted egg carton pieces set in tinted spackle. The stones outside are egg carton also. I'm thinking of putting matching rows of stones on the sides, too. See Victoria Miniland for tips on egg carton stones and bricks.

The Table

The fun part was making this table. It's a bit "wonky," but what else would a witch want to work on? (Try saying that fast!) I had to do some figuring as I wanted it to fit in the corner. There'll be shelves full of odd plants above the table and around the room.

A Few Funny Plants

Here are a few "odd" plants I've been making. The red "Poison" plant also has little "googly" eyes. The bone plant is perfect for keeping the dogs content.

The Witch seems to have a knack for, uh, growing extra parts.

I'll try to add some more photos when I get a little further. I also have a wallhanging box I covered in paper clay and will use as a wizard's room. I still have to paint it. Maybe I'll have one of these done by this Halloween. (Maybe).

** Have any special projects you've been working on "forever"?

Searching For A Starry Night in Top 10 of Reader's Poll

Wow! A great surprise! Last time I checked I was stuck at #11 in the annual Preditors & Editors Readers Poll and pretty much thought I was out of it.

Well.

Today I checked back at the final results for the 2008 poll and was stunned to find Searching For A Starry Night at #8 in the Top 10 of the mystery category...

And Searching For A Starry Night was also #8 in the book art category. Isn't that cool!

Thanks to all who voted!

* Read more about Searching For A Starry Night and get your copy at Quake (Print, ebook, and now in Kindle!)

Searching For A Starry Night Now in KINDLE!

My book - Searching For A Starry Night, A Miniature Art Mystery is now available in Amazon's KINDLE format.

Sam, her bff Lita and a mischievous Dachshund named Petey, face a cranky housekeeper, dog-hating gardener, and an ancient family curse as they try to find the missing miniature replica of Van Gogh's Starry Night. For ages 10 and up.


Check it out!

Survey: Ebook or Print?

I'm tired today so thought I'd pose a few questions and see what everyone thinks.

There's been quite a few discussions lately on "green" reading - ebooks - electronic books.

Yes, my book Searching For A Starry Night is available in ebook form (and is a finalist in the 2009 Eppie Awards in the ya/children's category.)

I've read ebooks and like them. For one, they're cheaper. Too bad the e-readers are so expensive yet. Maybe I'll get one at some point.

So the questions today:

* Got an e-reader? Which? What do you like about it? Have a Kindle? Do you like it or why not?

* Why do you or don't you like ebooks?

* Print or electronic, and why?

* Feel free to share your thoughts on electronic and print publishing.

Roast Me! at Book Roast Blog Today

Hear that sizzle?

I'm being roasted, grilled and whatever else today at the Book Roast blog.

Stop by and read a new excerpt from Searching For A Starry Night, A Miniature Art Mystery.

** Take a chance! Answer a question at the Book Roast blog and you may win a copy of Searching For A Starry Night, A Miniature Art Mystery or get a copy from Quake.

See you at the grill and bring your chef's hat.

** Be sure to comment! Then check back in later. I'll be popping in after 1 p.m. Central to see what everyone is talking about and find out why my ears are burning. ha-ha!

Happy Meme: Tag I'm it!

Jacquelyn Sylvan, author of the book, SURVIVING SERENDIPITY (which has one of the coolest, most striking covers I've seen - see it at her Serendipitous Times blog - just tagged me for the "Happy Meme."

Hey we all need happiness, right?

The idea of the "Happy Meme" is to list six things that make you happy.

That can vary, of course, depending on the day (or hour), but the six things that give me joy (in no particular order) are:

1. Chocolate
2. My dog
3. When the writing actually "clicks"
4. Miniatures
5. Family, friends
6. Reading a good story or book

Now I have to pick six people to list their six favorite Happy thoughts, and they'll pick six people, and so on. Hopefully I haven't picked someone already tagged.

I tag:

Norm Cowie (FANG FACE)

JR Turner (DEAD FRIENDS FOREVER

Debbie (DEBBIE'S TINY TREASURES)

Publisher Karen Syed

Authors Evelyn David (THE STILETTO GANG)

Emma Larkins

Writing Tip 16: Story Elements by Sunny Frazier

Californian Sunny Frazier, author of the mystery, FOOLS RUSH IN, ( Wolfmont Publishing) featuring astrologer and Sheriff's Department employee Christy Bristol, is also an award-winning short story writer.

Whether she's reading, or writing, short stories, Sunny looks for certain elements. These elements can also apply to novels, as well.

Writing Tip 16: Story Elements

Sunny says, "there are three elements I always look for in a short story.

1. The Best Line. "I have my students locate what they believe is the best line. It makes them aware that not every line has to be golden and a writer certainly doesn't want to lose a reader in self-indulgent prose. However, there should be one line that absolutely pops the piece. Like the finest accessory in the closet. This is the line to let readers know 'I'm a writer to be reckoned with.' I love it when I come across a sentence that makes me say, 'I wish I'd written that!'

2. The Universal Message. "Every prize-winning story has one. It should be subtle, not the moral-of-the-story. If a story doesn't have a sub-text, then it has no staying power in the reader's mind. I look for stories that have something I can identify with and will walk away thinking about. Give me a story I have to read twice--once for enjoyment, the second time to go deeper.

3. Tell-Me-Something-I-Don't-Know. "This one element takes a story out of something just conjured in the mind. I want the piece to include a fact that I didn't know. I want to say to someone in a social conversation, 'Did you know such-n-such? I read it in a short story.' It gives authenticating detail to written material. Do your homework, writers."

-- SUNNY FRAZIER is author of the Christy Bristol mystery series. Her first novel, FOOLS RUSH IN, won the Public Safety Writers Best Novel 2007. Her next book, WHERE ANGELS FEAR, also draws on her past work in the Sheriff's Department. It debuts in February '09.

Her short stories have won multiple awards. The latest anthology, NEVER SAFE, features two stories from Sunny, "Ditched" and "Life is a Cabernet."

Author Carolyn Hart says, "NEVER SAFE lives up to its name with dark tales of desire, madness, cruelty and despair. Gritty and gripping."

Eye Candy: Shabby Chic Miniatures

Is it real or is it miniature?

Today, I'm sharing some pieces that make me think of those interesting little second-hand shops where you can find all kinds of unique things for your house.

My friend Kitty first tried her hand at "shabby chic" decorating in her charming French Country-style "Brocante House," part of which I shared here previously.

She is continuing her fascination with the "shabby chic" style by constructing a new "Brocante Shop."

Can't you picture this neat hutch in your home or at your favorite store?





Make yourself at home. Looks comfy, don't you think?



Kitty made a great "faux" tray using everyday items.

* Make your own Miniature Tray *

1. Glue a scalloped or lacey paper trim to a round piece of wood or a Woodsie.
2. Paint paper and wood silver.
3. Make a tray filled with candle cups and candle holders: Fill the finished tray with silver bead caps and small crystal beads to resemble candle holders and cups.

* See more photos of Kitty's other work at her Minis by Kitty blog.