A couple of weeks back, I wrote this post about the importance of rewarding yourself when you’re trying to start a good habit…or break a bad habit. This is basic brain science. Naturally, good habits can be their own reward, but most of us benefit from extra reinforcement. So as a great philosopher once said, “Treat yo self!” One reader

Hi, friends! Today, I’m tackling a question a couple of readers have asked me lately: How can I get better at description? This is a great question! First of all, I’ll talk about why descriptive writing is important. It’s not only to make sure your novel is actually a full-length novel and not a novella, although some people who come

Just in the past few days, I’ve been started a daily healthy habit. It got me thinking about a friend of mine. Whenever I’m pursuing a goal or making a change, she asks me, “How are you going to reward yourself?” I never have a good answer for her. Usually, I think attaining the goal or making the change will

Hello! Welcome back to my series about writer worries, where I chat about common writer questions. (If you’re interested in other posts in the series, you can read about “What If Someone Steals My Ideas?” and “How Do I Know If My Writing Is Good?” Lots of writers worry about whether it’s okay to write about their subject matter. Here

A few weeks ago, because of my job, Mr. Donovan and I moved from Kansas City to Los Angeles with our three high-strung terriers. We haven’t known a lot of people to make a big move across the country in the  middle of their lives. And I think there are really good reasons why they don’t. For me, Kansas City