Blog of Gracie O'Neil Author Paranormal Romantic Suspense

Creating Memories

Today's gift--and the last one in my pre-Christmas selection--is about creating memories as a family. What we do...

The Choice of Commitment

Today is our pearl wedding anniversary. In terms of marriage in general the symbol is...

The Choice of Contentment

You probably know that the holiday season has one of the highest rates of suicides, murders, and runaways of any time of the year. Why is that?

*Building with Writer's Block

What do you do when you're at a point in your novel where you simply can't seem to go ahead?

Time for Giving

OK, it's a month (almost) till Christmas, and I'd like to give some early presents.

Logical Conflict?

I've just spent several absolutely exhausting hours on a piddly 1400 words. I know. I can't believe it either

Disguised as Work

I came across a really great quote by Thomas Edison the other day. "Opportunity is missed by most...

*Not Precisely Critiquing But...

Question Number Eight

"This isn't a critiquing question, but you said you and your cps do courses. What courses do you do, and what have you found most helpful?"

Critique Partners

Question Number Seven "You have critique partners. What do you do? How did you find them? "

*To change or not to change

Question Number Six. "What do I do if someone tells me I need to make major changes to my...

Critiquing in a genre you hate

Question Number Five. "What if I don't like the genre of the person I'm critiquing?"

Critiquing Character...continued

Question Number Four. "If I think someone's characters are unbelievable, what do I say? I don't want to hurt her feelings."

Critiquing Character

Question Number Three. "I've been told my characters aren't believable. What does that mean?"

*Voice and originality

I had intended to carry on answering the questions about critiquing but at...

Critiquing Questions...continued

Question Number Two. "I'm afraid to share my work in a group. Can I just share it...

Critiquing Questions

Many thanks to those of you who have sent questions about critiquing. I'll do my best...

*My Apologies, Shakespeare

Revisions, and revisions, and revisions

Creep in this draft of mine from day to day

Writing Revisited

After a day of revisions on my manuscript TSOF, I've discovered three things:

The Hysteria of Writing

There's been so much happening I don't know where to start. After a hectic...

*The Schizophrenia of Writing

This week I began the actual writing of my new WIP. TSSOH and I have taken a while...

The Business of Writing

Tomorrow is the beginning of week nine of the twelve week Web Building 101 for...

Memories

Nine years ago today I sat in a hospice with my family, and held my father's hand while...

Writing up a Storm

Had a wonderful weekend with one of my critique partners brainstorming

*Characters and Critiquing

Much of the character work stopped this week while I finished preparations for...

Fleshing out Character

I've always enjoyed creating characters, probably because I find people--and the...

Life in the fast lane...

It's been such a hectic week that it's been almost impossible to make time to write...a

*So much for plans...

A funny thing happened while I was doing my character exercises this week...

Plotting and Planning

I'm happy to report that I finished the final sentence of the "plot in a paragraph"...

Continuing Anew

OK. I have the entire plot overview encapsulated into one sentence. Randy at...

Starting Anew

There's nothing like the feeling you get when you begin plotting a new book...