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Work Hard and Then Play Hard
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Tweet this: Work Hard Play Hard Last week, I was on faculty at the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference at Ridgecrest, North Carolina. A beautiful conference center nestled in the Smoky Mountains. We had over 400 conferees. Wow! Lots of learning for fiction and nonfiction writers, taught by multi-published writers who are valued in the …
Highways, Speed Bumps, and Traffic Lights
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Tweet this: Highways, Speed Bumps, and Traffic Lights Writers seldom become successful and create a marketable book—overnight. At least that wasn’t my experience. The victories and triumphs are waylaid with rejection slips, disappointments, and lots of rewrites. But when the first sale was made, I knew it was worth every drop of sweat and tears. My …
Never Too Old!
Tweetable – Latest From DiAnn’s Desk – Never Too Old! via @DiAnnMills http://bit.ly/1TPqHWx #WritersLife (Click to Tweet) In 1996, my husband said to me, “Stop telling me someday you’re going to write a book. Do it now. Quit your job. I give you one year to get anything published.” My youngest son was a senior in high school. Was I too old to …
The Power of a Minion
Announcing DOUBLE CROSS Giveaway winners! Sabrina from Ohio won the Keurig Coffee Maker Jackie from Texas won the Double Cross puzzle and playing cards Sharon from Indiana won the FBI K-9 and a red FBI pen Gail from Nevada won the $20.00 Starbucks gift card Congratulations! The Power of a Minion Tweetable – Latest From DiAnn’s Desk – The Power of a …
The Life I’m Living
Tweetable – Latest From DiAnn’s Desk – The Life I’m Living via @DiAnnMills http://bit.ly/1KlgQPB #WritersLife (Click to Tweet) The Life I’m Living and the Life I’m Observing I’m a lot like you. Average in so many ways. I’m a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, neighbor, friend … and writer. Perhaps the last descriptor is what makes me different from most people. Yet …
In Case You Invite Me to Dinner
Tweetable – Latest From DiAnn’s Desk – In Case You Invite Me to Dinner – via @DiAnnMills http://bit.ly/1OwKDei #WritersLife (Click to Tweet) I look forward to the times I’m able to cook or bake. Varied recipes appeal to my creativity, whether the food is an appetizer, main course, or dessert. Busying myself in the kitchen is also a different venue for my hyperactive …
Daydream Believer
Those of you who grew up in the 60s remember Davy Jones and The Monkees sang this tune. John Stewart wrote it, and in December 1967, “Daydream Believer” hit the coveted number one spot on American charts. You can read the words and listen to the song here: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/monkees/daydreambeliever.html I’m a believer in daydreams. I think it’s a prerequisite to …
Motivating Magic by DiAnn Mills
Shoving our characters into action sometimes takes a stick of dynamite. Or discovering what motivates them into pursuing a worthy goal. When a character yawns and claims, I’m not interested, we writers haven’t done our job. Before you reach for the matches to light that stick of dynamite, let’s talk about what we can do before page one to create …
The Moods of Color by DiAnn Mills
Writers choose specific colors for their characters that indicate their personalities and emotions. Colors establish mood, affecting the actions and reactions of those who experience them. Consider the following colors and explanations to see where you fit with your color choices. Red is a vibrant color that causes strong emotions. From warm and comforting to anger and hostility. Red can …