Back in March, I was feeling especially snarky and decided to joke about some inspirational posters with pictures that don’t necessarily match the meanings. I’ve seen enough of these that I think Round Two is warranted. I’ll post the picture, and in the caption I’ll describe my initial, smartass thoughts about it. I found all of these…
Thanks to a combination of Sudafed and Killer Queen running in an endless loop through my head, I couldn’t sleep last night. So I decided to whip out the ol’ Kindle and read a bit, comprehending an occasional paragraph when Freddie Mercury would stop singing long enough to allow it (notice I didn’t say shut up,…
Don’t worry. I recognize the irony of the title. Non-readers aren’t likely to read a blog post unless there are lots of pictures (like the buzzfeed variety). Really, this post is for readers to nod to in agreement as they read it, and maybe, just maybe, a reader will convince a non-reader to learn a…
I know it’s only June, but my family and I have been talking about Halloween. It’s kind of a big deal. See, we participate in an event our church hosts every year called Trunk-or-Treat. I’m sure you’ve heard of similar events. The idea is to decorate your car trunk and presumably dress up to match…
I haven’t blogged since mid-April. Wanna know why? Well, I’ve been writing one book and editing another whilst critiquing other writers’ work and blah blah blah… Yeah, that’s all bullcrap. The real reason is I couldn’t find any good material. It was getting down to “Hey! Bread! I wonder if there’s anything there!” So I…
I’ve learned something since I started this writing adventure: there are two very distinct types of fiction, and readers and writers are divided into one of these groups, whether they know it or not. Maybe they’re not 100% camped out on one side, but they definitely lean one way or the other. I kind of…
About a month ago, I joined an online critique group called Critique Circle. Here’s how it works: I earn credits by critiquing the work that others submit, and I use those credits to submit my own work for others to critique. Sounds pretty simple, huh? It is. Mostly. The process is simple. Receiving critiques, well……
I create posters with quotes for my mom’s author page on facebook. When she and I first started this venture, I told her that we shouldn’t use pictures that might detract from the message. Here’s an example of one of the posters. Notice how the brick background matches the brick theme of the message. Now,…
This is the post that I’ve been thinking about writing for some time, but it’s also the post I’ve been avoiding. The reason is simple: as a former classroom teacher and current certified tutor, the topic is a bit soul-crushing. This would be the exact opposite of the light, funny mood I usually try to…
I find myself in an awkward stage of life. I have a book under contract, and another is going through the ruthless hands of an online critique group while I try to figure out its fate. I’m working on another new book that will be finished in a few months, with any luck. So, I…
Allison Maruska 