Kim Beall

My mom, bless her, saved all my old manuscripts and only gave them back to me once she knew I was old enough not to throw them out. I have to admit I was also surprised to learn that teenage-me was not such a terrible writer at all (though the story itself was a blatant Tolkien ripoff! 😁)

I have a carved Welsh spoon like that! Given to me by my own true love. Hormones make all characters do stupid things! 🥰

April in North Carolina

It IS odd that on Bluesky I have far more moderately-good-looking widowers with adorable dogs following me than I ever had on any other social media platform. (I don't follow those back, so that probably explains why I have more followers than followees!)

And you're right about the Peanuts movie!

Have you considered hybrid publishing? You have to pay for it, of course, but you get to select what services you want (such as formatting) and which you'd rather do yourself.

I absolutely would love to read a book with that character in. They sound like a lot of fun to hang around with!

I just want you to know, I now have the expression "mystic deck of asstier art" stuck in my head, and it's all your fault. (Thank you! 😆 )

PS: Be sure to bring lots of business cards / bookmarks with your buy-links on them for people who can't buy books right then but are interested.

I don't know well-attended this fair is, but as much as you can physically schlep/fit on the table is always better than not enough. (OTOH it's also fun to say "I sold out!" 😁 ) I hope people will flock to your table!

This is always my reply to those cynical "nobody reads anymore" memes. Any time I'm in a bookstore or library, I have to stand in line to check out. AND! Most of the time, some of the people in line ahead of me are kids. So, suck it, doomsayers!

Yes, definitely always take like 3x more of the first book in any series - that's the one most people will buy. Also consider giving a special bundle-deal on the whole trilogy - some people have been traumatized by not having the second book on hand when they finish the first!

Still, if Guinness offers me a product-placement deal after my book is made into a TV series, I wouldn't say no... 😉

I have tried to write after my end-of-day cold beer, and yep, it definitely does NOT work!

However, much of my WIP takes place in a country inn, so many conversations are held over a mug of ale. The scene isn't ABOUT the ale or the consumption of it, though! That would indeed be tedious.

That was the first lesson I learned about gardening in the South: Don't wait until a nice, sunny day to do the weeding. Unless you have a jackhammer!

They've been doing that since well before Regan! Since the 60s at the very least. Probably from Day One, really. I once had a boss who kept "borrowing" from donations, intending to pay it back "someday," but it got WAY too over his head and he ended up going to jail for it. The Fed should, too!

This is a cozy fantasy, so maybe it'll blend in better!

I seriously was considering using an em-dash, even though that isn't really the proper use for them. But I decided to stick to my guns and keep the semi-colon! 😏

People HAAAAATE semi-colons so much, though! 😁 But you're probably right.

Ahh, maybe I should use an em-dash instead. It's not the proper use of one, but at least they don't trigger editorial types the way semi-colons do.
(Maybe what I really ought to do is just forget about it for the moment and move on! 😜 )
#amrevising

Love your title. Though I have always love the character Aragorn ("Born of Hope") lately I am all, hope can go and love itself. They say we "NEEEEEEED hope to keep on going" but I'm here to tell ya, we don't. Rage and defiance actually produce more results!

I used to think I was all alone as a writer out here in the middle of rural NC. But once I got involved in local book clubs and the arts, I discovered I'm actually SURROUNDED by fellow writers! Meeting up with writers in Real Life™️ is awesome. They really are the best people!

I just put a semi-colon into the first sentence of the third paragraph of my manuscript. It really feels like just the right punctuation and sentence-structure for the mood of this scene. But I'm afraid it will turn off agents, even if used correctly, this early in the book. Thoughts?
#amediting

The fact that you recognize the flaws in your writing is a sign that you DO have what it takes to improve!

Just remember: writing short stories and writing novels, while they have some overlap, require vastly different skillsets. There is always a learning-curve when short fiction authors start writing novels, and also when novelists try their hand at short fiction.

But, TBH, critiquing others' work also helps me improve my own craft.

I met my critique partners through my local Arts Council, which had a Writing subcommittee. I've also met some through book clubs. They are a huge, huge help! Just remember that "critique partner" means you have to reciprocate by critiquing their work, in return.

Reading "Eats, Shoots, and Leaves" was one of my best writing investments. I'd been a grammar nerd all my life, but I had no idea I was using commas and apostrophes all wrong - especially that the possessive form of "it" is "its," not "it's." SO embarrassing!

Good thing I just ate, or that would make me hungry!

PS - that's a very good writing breakfast! Starchy stuff - especially pre-processed starch - is bad for writing. It bogs down your brain and makes you drowsy and logy. (Lookin at YOU, muffins!)

Cool! I've never heard those terms before.