I love haunted houses. I love their mystery, their poetry, the way they stand in for how we’re haunted ourselves. One of my favorite moments is when we “meet” the haunted house. Go on, give me mile-long, absurdly detailed descriptions. Use adverbs. Use “too many” adjectives. Tell me exactly what those gutters look like and…
March’s Theme: Caves
Another month, another themed list! Thanks in particular this month to the “Spooky Book Club” and “Horror Books” Facebook groups for caves-themed book recs. If you like what you find here, sign up for my newsletter! I always include a little extra for subscribers. Got any theme-related stories? Books or games set far underground? Music that…
Writing Advice for New Writers
Webinars are one of my favorite sources of great writing advice. From the hundred or so webinars I’ve taken notes on since 2021, some advice has never left me. When I start a new book, when I’m struggling with muddy middles, or when I’m groaning over revisions, these suggestions and insights have pulled me through….
February’s Theme: Mushrooms
Every month, for my newsletter subscribers, I do a themed list of book recs, art, music, video games, etc. The newsletter always includes a little extra, but here are some highlights! Do you have any mushroom-oriented books you’ve loved? Any games or music steeped in shroomy goodness? Just a favorite mushroom? If so, drop a…
Should I Pay for Beta Readers?
First off, what is beta reading? Not everybody thinks of it the same way, so always know your reader’s definition of the term before agreeing to anything. For me, beta reading means outlining my general impression of a story in a simple 3-4 page report. Characters (development and arcs), pacing, and the “big picture” are…
January’s Theme: Snow
Every month, for my newsletter subscribers, I do a themed list of oddball items: book recs, indie games, art, weird facts, creepy internet rabbit holes… If you like what you see here, sign up! The newsletters always include little extra. If you’ve got more cool theme-related oddities or recommendations, don’t hold out: drop ’em in…
How to Give Feedback on Creative Writing
Maybe it’s a cousin with his first short story. Your quiet aunt who finally finished her draft of a romance novel. Your college roommate with a manuscript about aliens. Whatever the case, giving feedback can be as intimidating as receiving it. After a decade-plus of practice giving and receiving feedback, I’ve found the following rules…
Writing Resources
Are you a new writer? Here’s a list of free and affordable writing resources I’ve collected on my own five-year journey.
Ms. Wolownik’s New Assistant
Here’s my entry for the Official Kidlit #FallWritingFrenzy! Writers select one image to inspire a 200-word story. My image is below! Ms. Wolownik’s New Assistant Ms. Wolownik’s house looks like a rotten potato. It’s brown and white, and nobody can tell mold from paint. Its roof sags. Vines from overgrown plants spill out the windows….
Writing a Query Letter
Writing my first query letter has been transformative. I have lived the life of a phoenix. Taken my beak to shell. Swelled with the glory of flight. Burned into ashes. And then, in a chorus of mystical chemistry, I remade myself. Eh, in short, it was really effin’ hard. Here’s my personal path from zero…