Writing helps, prompts and inspiration

To my dear followers here at You Can Write a Novel;

I read a quote not long ago; If you chase two rabbits, both with get away. I am cancelling this blog for the time being in order to focus on my Joy in the Journey blog. I hope you will join me there for inspiration, writing helps, encouragement, and fun. This blog has been languishing long enough.

So I'll focus my energies on catching that other rabbit and hope to take you along for the hunt.

Thanks for your support and encouragement during this writing journey.

Crafting Unforgettable Characters--Free E-book

My friend and fellow author K. M. Weiland has graciously allowed me to bring this info and offer to you.



As those of you follow me on Facebook and Twitter may already know, I’ve been hard at work for the last month, putting together an e-book as a gift to my readers. Today, I’m excited to announce that you can now claim your copy of Crafting Unforgettable Characters: A Hands-On Introduction to Bringing Your Characters to Life.




Featuring some of my most popular tips on character crafting, this pdf offers a good starting place for understanding the basics of character building, as well as some tips for troubleshooting. You’ll also discover inspiring quotes from successful authors, writing prompts, and creativity exercises. Of course, the discussion of character is far too vast a subject to be covered in a 50-page e-book, but this information will give you the tools you need to tackle your latest batch of characters.

Click here to follow the link.

Thanks, K.M. for letting me share.

Respect Your Novel---Just Write

I don't know about you, but my day is full of distractions. Since I am able to stay home and focus on writing fulltime, it seems there are even more distractions that take me away from my desk.

Whatever your situation you might have a hard time focusing on writing once you are able to put everything else aside and hit it hard. While preparing my presentation for a writers workshop in the Dayton, Ohio area next month, I came across this list I had compiled of What Not To Do's when you should be writing. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Even better, you might just find some inspiration.

Do not check your email. Do not log in to your favorite writers’ group to see what everyone’s up to. Do not turn on the TV and tell yourself its research. Do not wash the dishes. Do not reorganize your computer files. Do not take out the trash. Do not Google your exes. Do not Google yourself. Do not take a nap—I fight this temptation every afternoon. Do not change the cat litter. Do not hang out the laundry. Do not file your nails. Do not answer the phone. Do not pay your bills. Do not balance your checkbook. Do not yell at your husband because he didn’t record the last five transactions. Do not start to think you don’t actually have what it takes to write a book. Do not edit your ideas before you even write them down. Do not start a to-do list. Do not start wondering if that mole is bigger than the last time you looked at it. Do not start thinking of all the loose ends you need to fix before you finish your book. Do not start perusing your own bookshelves for inspiration. Do not organize all the magazines you subscribe to but never read. Do not start thinking about what to fix for dinner. Do not look up the number for the local delivery place because you probably won’t have time to cook dinner since you’re having such an awesome writing day. Do not start worrying about all the time you’ve already wasted. Do not come up with 20 more Do-Not’s to add to this list.

Enough lolly-gagging. Get back to work!