Brilliant

For Writers

Mastering Two Careers - Part 2

Then about ten years ago, a certain presidential election occurred, and the candidate I did not support was elected. Once this candidate was sworn into office, he tried to do so many things
I did not agree with that watching national news made my blood
boil! So to preserve my sanity, I stopped watching the news.

Genre Happenings

What's Your Brand?

I jumped into the publishing world “back in the day” when the only writers who knew about “branding” were those who wrote Westerns and cowboy novels. As a result, I wrote whatever came my way (and brought me a contract). My first dozen or so books included a best-selling women’s devotional, two children’s compilations...

DiAnn Direct

Dynamics of Emotion

Along our journey of learning novel construction, I’ve hinted at the importance of creating conflicting emotions in our writing. This month, we’ll discuss the dynamics of emotion and how it’s an engine additive to our novels. A few years ago, I attended Donald Maass’s workshop on writing powerful emotions.

The Well Writer

Jillian's guest this month: Megan DiMaria

As writers we don’t toil physically in our work, but a toll is taken. And to maintain creativity, a writer needs to stay refreshed by nurturing good physical, spiritual, and emotional health. According to dictionary.com, creativity is the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules and patterns, and to create meaningful...

Author By Night

In The Middle of the Best Laid Plans...

I’ve seen a commercial trailer lately for a movie starring some of my favorite people: Sarah Jessica Parker, Greg Kinnear, and Pierce Brosnan. It’s called I Don’t Know How She Does It, and the movie chronicles the life of a wife, mother, and professional woman trying to juggle all the details of a jam-packed life. Bear in mind that I am not a wife or a mother...