historical fiction writer, amateur photographer, retired computer guru and math geek
There are books, there are great books…and then there are great authors. You know, the author who bangs out one best seller after another, who makes you think, “Gosh, I wish I could write like that.” For me that author is Dean Koontz. If you haven’t yet encountered the name you need to look him … Continue reading The Author I Admire Most
Susannah and the loons have been on hiatus for quite awhile but we're back with a new look thanks to the awesomeness of @kjharrowick. If you're reading this post in your email, please take the time to visit my site and tell me what you think. I think this new look was well worth the … Continue reading A new look for Utter Loonacy!
If you’re a part of the writing community, you’ve probably heard the term “beta reader.” What’s that, you say? Beta readers are part of the writing process. Let’s start from the beginning: When you finish that first rough (and awful!) draft, the rule of thumb is to set it aside for a few weeks, then … Continue reading Beta Me This
I’ve decided I’ve done all I can with Hope. I’m driving myself crazy trying to make it perfect and at this point I’m afraid I may be making things worse instead of better, so after a couple of weeks of self-cajoling I have started querying agents. Tally three weeks in: 10 queries sent, 5 responses … Continue reading Querying
1920 On my thirteenth birthday everything changed. I was up and out early to check my trap lines. The air was full of the sounds and smells of spring: the sweet scent of Ma’s favorite purple lilacs, the sing-song warble of mating orioles. My overalls were soaked to the knees from walking through the hay … Continue reading Teaser: Chapter 1 of “Hope”
I’ve just completed the umpteenth edit of Hope and I’m wondering: What more will it take to make this novel publish-worthy? According to my betas and developmental editor I’m getting closer. “Readers want a protagonist who takes charge, who wins against all odds,” is what I’m told. But that’s not what life was like in … Continue reading Editing Woes
Authors: How many times have you wanted to chuck this whole writing thing? C’mon now, I see you hiding in the corner. Fess up. Maybe it’s the bleak weather, but right now anything to do with writing is the last thing I want to do. Writing has become a chore instead of a passion. Having … Continue reading My Love-Hate Relationship With Writing
It's funny where a writing prompt may lead you. The prompt that resulted in the following excerpt suggested I write about something in which I have expertise. But what emerged (don't ask me how) was this story. Not only do I not have any expertise in the subject, I also have no experience in the … Continue reading Writing Prompts and Where They Lead You
Have you ever tried visualizing your characters as movie actors? I suppose it's rather like "If my novel were a movie..." but really it's more a means of finding an image that represents your characters' looks and personalities. I've spent some time looking for images that fit Hope and her friends. Sometimes an image will … Continue reading If “Hope” was a movie…
When you start a story you never know where it’s going to go. The earliest version of my novel, Hope, looks nothing like it does today. Here’s where it started: I was trying to come up with story ideas, and the thought struck me that it might be interesting to write an unlikable protagonist. Instantly, … Continue reading Origins: Hope
Susannah Willey Writes 