KS Writer & Teacher

If you’re anything like me, few words strike fear in your heart quite like “word limit.” (Okay. There are MANY things that strike more fear into my heart than those two word,s but I digress...

https://kswriterteacher.wordpress.com/2024/02/04/word-limits-and-murdered-darlings-oh-my/

A few years ago, I wrote what is probably my most-read, most-commented-on post ever – about why I despised Goodreads with a passion surpassed only by my hatred of Donald Trump. (And Elon Musk. ...

https://kswriterteacher.wordpress.com/2023/12/25/goodreads-cait-corrain-review-bombing-and-why-i-still-hate-it/

Last weekend, I locked my kittens in the bathroom (with plenty of food, water, and toys, yes!) and headed to Oklahoma City for the first-ever RomanceLahoma writers’ conference. Hosted by the Ok...

https://kswriterteacher.wordpress.com/2023/08/12/inner-demons-your-characters-and-you-making-the-most-of-your-characters-internal-conflicts/

A lot of people make big plans for summer. You know the type – they’re planning that huge vacation where they finally get to go snorkeling in the Caymans, or they’re going to backpack acros...

https://kswriterteacher.wordpress.com/2023/07/24/my-summer-romance-reads/

All professions seem to have rivalries. Physics has theoretical vs. experimental physicists. Historians have Jeffersonians vs. Hamiltonians. And in writing, we have pantsers vs. plotters. Plotter...

https://kswriterteacher.wordpress.com/2023/06/27/plotters-pantsers-whats-right-for-you/

Last time, I talked about murdering your darlings – those pretty bits of prose, those long gorgeous descriptions, the flowering conversations that you adore, but don’t actually serve your sto...

https://kswriterteacher.wordpress.com/2023/04/09/murdering-darlings-murdering-characters/

Generally speaking, murder is wrong. But sometimes, it is necessary. In writing, “murder your darlings” isn’t just an adage; it’s practically a commandment. It’s been attributed to Faul...

https://kswriterteacher.wordpress.com/2023/04/06/murder-your-darlings-seriously-murder-them-already/

There are several axioms of writing, trite sayings and ‘rules’ that we should all know by heart by now. Write what you know. Don’t use adverbs. Show, don’t tell. There’s another one, to...

https://kswriterteacher.wordpress.com/2023/03/04/writing-every-day-why-we-should-try/

The past months have been a whirlwind for all of us. We’re getting back to normal, but it’s that ‘new’ normal we’ve been warned about for the past two years, where every cold is a reaso...

https://kswriterteacher.wordpress.com/2022/12/25/getting-back-into-writing/

“Value Them Both” is a lie. This amendment would give total control over abortion laws to the Kansas state legislature. It is not about saving lives, and it’s certainly not about valuing ei...

https://kswriterteacher.wordpress.com/2022/07/23/vote-no-on-value-them-both/