The process of creating and getting a book published, particularly for self-publishers like myself, can be daunting. I’m sure it’s caused numerous headaches for those of us new to the wonderful world of the author. Aside from getting great advice from my author friends, I’ve been researching tips for writers on the Internet. I’d like to share some of my finds and hope they are beneficial for you too. There is so much more information out there. Don’t be afraid to go looking.

So, you're in the mood to write. You sit down at your PC hands poised over the keyboard (or pen hovering over paper) waiting for the inspiration to materialize-- hmmm. I'm sure some people have a story or an idea pop right into their minds. There are so many prolific authors. But, for a number of us, finding that spark of an idea for a book, short story, or poem is like placing a stethoscope on a vault and listening for those tumblers to click into place. I've mulled over the

Welcome to my new blog! When I write, I find I initially use certain adjectives and nouns quite frequently. Repetitiveness is okay when you’re trying to get your ideas out and recorded, but for the finished product it’s not. If an author uses the same words for an action or a description multiple times, it takes my attention away from their story. So, I consciously make an effort to vary my words. Sometimes, I’ll sit and stare at the monitor for a few minutes wondering how I