Favorite Tropes

Writers are often advised to avoid certain tropes in their writing, but let's face it... some tropes/cliches are unavoidable. And some are irresistible! Tropes and cliches can be bad, don't get me wrong. They are dreaded and spurned for a reason. They can break a story and turn a reader away from a book or … Continue reading Favorite Tropes →

Writing Techniques: Self-editing and revising!

Now, the following post is based solely on MY methods. This is what works for me, but might not work for all writers. We are all wired differently, and there is no universal "right" way to do things. Now, with that disclaimer out of the way, I am going to share my personal methods for … Continue reading Writing Techniques: Self-editing and revising! →

Writing Techniques: Querying

This isn't technically a "techniques" post, because, admittedly, I have very limited experience with this. So, instead, I'm just going to babble a bit about how my process with querying has been going thus far, so it will be a bit more personal. I never attempted to traditionally publish I'm With You, though, in hindsight, … Continue reading Writing Techniques: Querying →

Guilty

When the well of inspiration runs dry, there are a few methods that I utilize to get myself back on track. I have mentioned a few in previous posts, but I must admit, I have one trick that also counts as a "guilty pleasure" of sorts... When I get stuck, and the creative juices simply … Continue reading Guilty →

Allie’s Awful Guide: Public Speaking

I used to be far more terrified of public speaking than I am now, to the point where I agonized over having to give speeches or presentations in class. I even opted out of presenting speeches a couple of times because losing a few points was preferable to standing up in front of an audience. … Continue reading Allie’s Awful Guide: Public Speaking →

A Glimpse….

It's been two years since my YA novel I'm With You came out, and though I hope to have my next YA/Fantasy novel out soon, I feel like I haven't shared anything about my next project other than some vague comments. So, here's an excerpt from the MS in its current state - obviously, since I'm … Continue reading A Glimpse…. →

Home

Welcoming my favorite month with a poem. Happy October! Hope you enjoy! Home There is a light in her window. A hopeful flicker, or is it only melting wax? Minutes dripping to nothing? A glimpse of distant shores, left you yearning for the foreign and the wild. She is neither of those things. She … Continue reading Home →

Worth 1000 Words #13: Ol’ Reliable

On the first day of college, I was nervously approaching my first ever class - Health and Wellness - wondering who I would sit with, if I'd make any friends, and why on earth said class needed to be so freakin' far away from the parking lot, when my backpack strap broke. Now, superstitious folk … Continue reading Worth 1000 Words #13: Ol’ Reliable →

A Few Words

Scrounging up confidence, battling insecurity, and facing internal and external opposition is a day-to-day struggle for some writers. Myself included. And it's not only with writing - it can bleed into other aspects of life, as well. It has been difficult lately to sit down and write and work on queries. Nagging "what ifs?" and … Continue reading A Few Words →

DNF

As an avid reader, I try my hardest to adhere to the policy that if I start a book, I must finish it. I am far more strict when it comes to films - especially if I am seeing them in theaters - but still have similar standards for books. I don't like leaving unfinished … Continue reading DNF →