Midweek Mixer

I never drink, but on words. Wednesdays feature quotes and phrases that make me heady because we all need a boost to get us to the weekend.

"Better to write for yourself and have no public than to write for the public and have no self."
    ~ Cyril Connolly

Ten-Word Tuesday: Goals

Help others. Success is more satisfying when it is shared.

2011 Debut Author Spotlight

This beautiful idea of spotlighting  debut authors is brought to you by Christina Lee. She is amazing and sweet. Go check her blog out here. 

I've discovered something about myself. I'm terrible at reviews, but that's not going to stop me from gushing over a few debut authors whose books I've fallen in love with. I'm just going to do it my way: in ten words, of course!

Entwined by Heather Dixon

Magic bleeding over from centuries past seems harmless enough until...

Shifting by Bethany Wiggins

Strong characters rise when good sense tells them to fall.

The Liar Society by Lisa and Laura Roecker

Ghostly emails, haunting friendship, clues, threats, love equal fantastic read.

Theatre Trick

(Blogger thinks I spell theatre wrong. I'd stick my tongue out, but I don't think blogger would care.)

Back in my college days, I learned a little acting trick to help bring out emotions. When I first started writing, I realized it worked just as well to bring out emotional responses in characters. It's so simple you're probably already doing it, but I'm going to pass it along anyway.

Grab your favorite pillow and lie down on the floor, Ask yourself what emotional response you're trying to trigger. Let's go with shyness because it's not one we usually think about. Go ahead and walk yourself through the situation you remember, Then figure out what part of your body is feeling the emotional response. It could be your heart, hands, face, stomach... I feel a lot of my emotions in my stomach. The feelings are random for everyone, but when you can place that emotion with a part of your body it's easier to bring back and when you're feeling it, you can more easily show, rather than tell, your readers how your characters feel it.   

Ten-Word Tuesday: Goals

Spend ten minutes a day on you; inspiration needs motivation.