Reading. Writing. Me.
NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. Every November, writers across the globe shoot to get 50,000 words of a new novel down before 11:59pm, November 30th. I first heard about it in 2015. That year I wrote the first draft of a middle-grade novel called Land of the Golden Raindrops. In 2017, I wrote the first... Continue Reading →
This summer, I'm trying to buckle down and get through a complete rewrite of my fantasy novel, Immortal Bond. It's been slow going, not just because of our upcoming bundle of joy, but because of the growth I've experienced as a writer since last summer. I started my rewrite by analyzing my characters in each... Continue Reading →
I'm not accustomed to this level of praise from anyone but my husband. My professor is holding out my short story to the rest of the class, my √++ a loud red against the white paper. It's screaming, "loved it" almost literally, because that's what he's written next to my grade. "Look at the format. This is... Continue Reading →
It wasn't the rejection letters that made me think it over, not really. I was expecting them. Honestly, I think it was the fact of my so definitely expecting them that made me really think it over, like I didn't have a chance in hell. It's because my query letter sucks, I thought. I just... Continue Reading →
It was not my intention to dive into the sea of National Novel Writing Month. I watched swarms of writers on social media, flexing and stretching along the dock, waiting for November 1st, the starting pistol shot that would send them all plunging downward in a desperate race against themselves for 50,000 words and a brand new... Continue Reading →
Most artists have a preferred way to practice their craft. Some people crank up the music. Some people head out to a favorite coffee shop, wrap their fingers around a warm cup 'o joe and their feet around the metal legs of the chair. I recently read an article about a woman who decided that she should dress up... Continue Reading →
R. C. Svendsen 