For writers, November is the season of Thanksgiving and NaNoWriMo. I usually think of these events separately, but this year I'm putting them together. Not that I'm doing NaNo, but I always use the month to consider my writing goals (and, by extension, my writing schedule). This year, what with the pandemic sorta kinda maybe easing I thought of planning my writing future. That … [Read more...] about Writing With No Regrets by Lani Longshore
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The Joy of Words by Lani Longshore
Award-winning novelist and TVW member Ann Parker writes occasional blog posts about the history of American slang. I'm constantly surprised by slang that sounds old but is really quite new, and by those words that sound current but have been around for donkey's years. Tracing the lineage of ordinary words can occupy a pleasant afternoon as well, which is why I'll keep my old … [Read more...] about The Joy of Words by Lani Longshore
Character Development In A Series by Lani Longshore
At the last Tri-Valley Writers Social Space Zoom meeting we talked about how some of us have stopped reading an author we love because the protagonist doesn't seem to learn from the past. It's not a trivial question, because I am as guilty as the next reader of wanting my favorite characters to change, learn, and grow – but not too much. I still want to recognize the … [Read more...] about Character Development In A Series by Lani Longshore
Working Through Disruptions by Lani Longshore
After more than a year of the pandemic, one would think I should have an entire arsenal of techniques to work through disruptions to my writing. I know I thought so until I turned the calendar to July. Although my schedule is no longer attached to a school year, the mere fact that it is officially summer has thrown a monkey wrench into what passed as my writing … [Read more...] about Working Through Disruptions by Lani Longshore
Returning To Life As We Knew It by Lani Longshore
Tri-Valley Writers will start in-person meetings in September. This is splendid news, but my internal editor is whining that I haven't explored this existence deeply enough, so what makes me think I'm ready to return to life as we knew it? I thought my increased journaling would be enough to document how these last months have changed my routines. In re-reading my entries, … [Read more...] about Returning To Life As We Knew It by Lani Longshore
On Hold by Lani Longshore
The phone is on my desk, on speaker. I'm on hold. As I listened to the “your call is important to us” message for the tenth time, I realized this is a superb metaphor for my writing. My novel has been on hold for months. I'm not sure who I'm waiting for, or what information I need from this person. Perhaps I'm waiting for my villain to show his motivation. Perhaps my heroine … [Read more...] about On Hold by Lani Longshore
Planning The Next Big Thing by Lani Longshore
My current writing project is a long way from finished – it's barely started – but that doesn't mean I'm not already planning the next big thing. That's sort of the way of the creative life, or at least my creative life. I surround myself with notes on potential plots, interesting titles waiting for a story, and twisty little subplots waiting for the right characters. When the … [Read more...] about Planning The Next Big Thing by Lani Longshore
Perils & Pitfalls of Self-Publishing by Jim Aikin
I love self-publishing, but there are many ways to do it badly. Whole books have been written about this topic. Here are a few tips based on my experience. 1) If your book has graphics, make sure the person you hire to edit it uses the same software you do (same version, same computer OS). I recently edited a book by a friend, and we’re still dealing with the nightmares … [Read more...] about Perils & Pitfalls of Self-Publishing by Jim Aikin
