By Cathy Baker @DiAnnMills This week Cathy Baker @CathyBaker is my guest blogger. Do you have the perfect reading spot? “The unread story is not a story; it is little black marks on wood pulp. The reader, reading it, makes it live: a live thing, a story.” —Ursula K. Le Guin You’re handed a book by your favorite author and told

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills We’ve all wondered if we’re cut out to write a novel. We experience an unusual or exciting event and ask ourselves, “Could I write a story about this?” Sometimes we dwell on it for days, weeks, months, and even years, still asking ourselves the same question. Why not take a novelist writing quiz to see if

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Who doesn’t enjoy a good belly laugh? We’re told it’s great medicine and usually done best with others. That’s a party! When I learned March 19 is Let’s Laugh Day, I was on board for the celebration. But before I planned my day of chuckles and giggles, I had a few questions: Is laughter beneficial? Why

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills A writer’s life is busy, hectic, and varied. Much like everyone else on the planet. But when I crave think time and the ability to process ideas and yet be creative, I often cook or bake. At least if the dish doesn’t turn out tasty, the rejection is minimal. A few years ago, I realized I

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills We are on a Sacred Adventure, a journey of the soul fueled by the opportunity to touch the lives of countless people. We have been given a treasured gift, the gift of writing. Writing is not an easy journey, but it’s one filled with holiness. Writing is a path each writer takes alone. But in the

Guy Gourley @DiAnnMills My guest blogger today is Guy Gourley, a good friend, and excellent writer. Recently, I was sitting with my writing coach, DiAnn Mills at a local Panera as she sipped on her third cup of black java. We were going over my novel, which has taken years to complete. No wonder she needed that much caffeine. Thankfully,

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills For some people, Thanksgiving is about the food. For others, Thanksgiving is about spending time with family and friends. Some can’t wait to finish the meal to tune into the football games. Some look forward to everything Thanksgiving. Then there are writers. Oh, we love the food, family, football, and friends, but what about the inevitable

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Every writer wants to be viewed as professional, intelligent, and bestselling. These goals are honorable, worthy, and attainable. But when a writer consistently makes mistakes that label him/her unprofessional, credibility takes a nose dive as well. Examine the following mistakes. If you are a writer, changes may be on your horizon. 1.  Practicing poor grammar and

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills We writers can be a bit eccentric, sometimes bizarre, and those who love us may wonder if we need to be on meds. The truth is we’re creative people, and we look at life a little differently. You may be wondering if you’re a writer or suspect someone close to you has the ability to string

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Lions fascinate me. They represent nobility and respect, and their muscular bodies are to be admired and feared. No fat anywhere. Like I hope my stories resonate with readers. The more I thought about lions, the more I realized writing a novel has much in common with these animals. Here are my 10 comparisons. If you