My older sister Terri and her friends put on a variety show in the loft over our garage one summer. The skits were, of course, all the most sophisticated humor. But best of all, the older kids let Grace and me join in. Because I was six whole minutes younger Read more…
Fellow Cajun Sushi Hamster Tobias Buckell decided to host a writing workshop at the college where he worked. He invited an editor to lead it and got six or so aspiring authors like myself to attend. I was the only girl, which made me very nervous. I submitted a story I’d Read more…
I was hosting my monthly writer’s workshop, The Cajun Sushi Hamsters, in my first “real” post-college apartment. I was in the tiny kitchen, and so was Hugo-winner Maureen McHugh. Geoff Landis, who also has won Hugos, joined us. As always happens, once you get a few people in the kitchen, Read more…
Working on the write-a-thon I find myself approaching my laptop with much the same dread as a dentist’s drill. Do I gotta? Yes, young lady. You made a commitment. Now write! What happened? When I was a kid, you couldn’t stop me from writing! I filled entire spiral notebooks while Read more…
So, why did I whine about my low self-esteem on a writing blog? Because of this: Low self-esteem destroys stories. Say you have an idea – a brilliant, simple idea. (It could also be a piece of crap, but for this exercise it is brilliant and simple.) I’m going to Read more…
Well, it’s official – I have Victorian Novel Heroine’s Disease. It’s incurable, the doctors are stumped, and I have developed a habit of fainting. I’m weak and helpless but not coughing or snotting or anything that would make me poor company. Why, yes, I am spending a lot of time Read more…
Subheading: Look at me look at me look at me Is being a writer about craving attention? All my life I’ve yearned after the spotlight. Maybe because I was born there. I’m a twin. As a kid, this was AWESOME. The adoring public was always ready to, well, adore us. Read more…