You know that age-old advice, write what you know? Basically every writer who follows that advice writes about their region. And it isn’t...

New writers looking for advice from published authors are often told to read, read, read. Reading, they say, helps make you a better...

Going through a midsummer writing slump? If you can’t get yourself to sit down and write, what you might need is something new and...

If you have teenage kids, you probably know all about rap music. If you’re like me and have a child who writes rap, well, you may know...

One of my summer projects is to get started writing a novel. It’s been about eight years since I wrote my last book, so I’ll admit I’m a...

I think summer is a great time to write. But like my summer reading, I prefer to keep my summer writing light. That doesn’t mean I don’t...

Recently, I ran my dog in his first flyball tournament. If you don’t know anything about flyball, it’s a dog sport where two teams of...

Every once in a while, my kids will ask me to take a look at a paper they're working on for a class. Sure! I'll say, as I eagerly pull...

Can’t get motivated to write? Maybe you need a change of scenery. Truth is, sitting at a desk all day can get old. Of course, it may be...

When my dad died unexpectedly years ago, I suffered tremendous grief. It got to the point where I had to seek professional help. One...

If writing a “to do” list sounds like one more thing to do, it is. But if you’re a writer, it may be one of the most useful things you...

I recently read an article that said the weight problem in America (over one-third of us is obese and two-thirds are overweight) can be...

(Note: This is a guest post by my husband, the biggest sports fanatic I know. I wanted him to talk about his thoughts on sports writing,...

Can’t think of anything to write about? If you’re at a loss for words, try looking at a picture. Pull out that box of old photos and...

When I was a kid, I loved using commas. I wouldn’t just use them wherever I should, either. I’d use them wherever I could. I must have...

My writing pal, Riley Welcome to my blog, where I plan to offer writing tips and ramblings on being a writer from Minnesota. This is my...