7 Ways to Improve Your Writing

Every writer I know wants to be a better writer. Who wouldn't want to write perfectly polished first drafts that go straight from manuscript form to the New York Times bestseller list? It would save a lot of time and heartache.

Unfortunately that is not the case. Whether you're a seasoned pro with a bookshelf of bestsellers or a budding author struggling to finish your inaugural first draft, there is still room for improvement because, like people, our language is always changing.

You don't have to go back to college or attend an online class to improve your writing. Achieving this is rather easy, but it takes discipline and a willingness to follow through. Here are some easy ways to improve your writing, regardless of your skill level.

1. Own Your Style - Grammar and spelling are the two things readers nitpick the most when reading your work. Some contemporary literary types will tell you it's okay to start a sentence with the word "and" or "but" and end a sentence with a preposition such as "for" or "at".

While the narrator in my Treasure Pines series might state something like "And for the most part, it was true.", you will never, ever hear, "But she wasn't sure where she put it at." The only time you should use these things in your novel is in dialogue.

2. Ditch the Passive Voice - Passive voice weakens literary writing. (It also fills it with zombies.) While passive voice is more accepted in conversational writing, like dialogue or blog posts, try to keep it out of your book. A lot of people don't know when they're using passive voice, but this video helps you learn how to recognize it. Don't let the zombies win!

3. Read -  The best writers are also readers. Reading helps you know what you want in your own writing. More importantly, it helps you know what you want to avoid.

4. Join a Writing Group - Look for a group on a site like Meetup or search on your social media network of choice. Put the word out there that you're looking for other writers. You could even start your own group. Trust me. If you build a writing group, writers will join.

5. Do You Plot or Pants? - During a Facebook conversation with Chris Bohjalian, New York Times bestselling author of Midwives, I asked him about his outline process. He said he doesn't use one. He's a total "pantser", writing by the seat of his pants from Page 1 until The End. It's okay to be a pantser and for some, like Chris Bohjalian, it works great.

Other authors prefer to outline. I'm one of these people. While I've pants'ed every short story I've ever written (and don't see that changing), I'm a die hard plotter when it comes to writing anything over a couple of thousand words. J. K. Rowling is also a plotter.

If you're a die-hard plotter, change things up and try pantsing. And if you're a pantser, then try a loose outline, such as a mind map or a timeline. You don't have to stick with it, but trying something new can take your writing to the next level.

6. Find an Editor - Finish your first draft and put it through a site like After the Deadline to get initial feedback on your writing. Accept that your first draft is probably 35% total crap that's never going to make it to the final version that goes to print, and find yourself an editor. HAUNTED WOMEN OF THE APPALACHIANS would never have reached the beta reading stage without the help of Sheila from Sage Editing.

7. Ditch Your Laptop - Silence your phone. Go somewhere with horrible cell service and no WiFi. Take a notebook and a couple of ink pens, and write. Write whatever pops into your head. Make lists. Write about what you see, hear, and smell. You'll be surprised at what detail you can add to your writing by doing this. As much as I love my laptop, this is one of my favorite things to do.

What other methods to improve your writing would you add to this list? Is there any you disagree with? I'd love to hear what you have to say in the comments!

7 Reasons Why I Love Being Type B

The Type A and Type B personality metrics date back to the 1950s, and describes contrasting characteristics among people. Generally speaking, Type A's are the successful go-getters while Type B people are slothful fun seekers. That's not entirely true, however.

My to-do list looks more like many layers of subway graffiti art. My desk is rather messy, covered in piles of things I'll get to...eventually. My schedule is as flexible as any master yogi.

The Type A people in my life ask, often with a look of sheer horror on their faces, "But doesn't that bother you?"

Absolutely not! I am Type B and loving it, and here's why:

• According to researchers, Type B people are more laid back and patient. That means less chronic stress and a healthier cardiovascular system. It doesn't get me out of eating my vegetables or going to the gym, but it is a big plus.
  
• Type B people are more fun, and we're great at delegating. It means we're more rested and less over-worked. We're also more diplomatic, and more likely to compromise rather than take sides in disagreements between friends or co-workers.
  
• We look at the big picture. Sure, we might overlook small details, but we Type B folks are looking on down the road, past today's petty frustrations and on ahead to bigger and brighter goals.
  
• Type B's use failure as a learning tool. Don't get me wrong. We love success as much as anyone, but if we have to take a step back then we use what we learned to bounce back and try again.
  
• We are positive people. We try to see the good in everyone. Because of this, we are more likely to give someone a second chance. Or maybe even a third. We're awesome that way.
  
• Type B folks are creative. Look at us. We're comfortable in our chaos and thrive under looming deadlines.
  
• We live in the moment and enjoy every minute of life. There's something about a Type B person that puts other people at ease no matter what their personality types.

I'm pretty content being a Type B, even if my Type A husband and I butt heads now and again. And Maggie Sawyer, the main character of my first Treasure Pines mystery series is fairly Type B as well.

What type are you? Are you a well-organized Type A who loves structure and organization? Are you a creative Type B with a free spirit that goes with the flow? Maybe you're a little bit of both. Let me know in the comments section, below. I'd love to hear your take on it!

How a Rainy Night Cured my Writer's Block

I was smack dab in the middle of the first draft of my first full-length cozy mystery when I fell into a rut. This wasn't an "I'll be over here playing Candy Crush for a few days" kind of rut. This was an "I've fallen and I can't get up and I'll be over here until someone comes along with a crowbar to wedge me from this space" kind of rut.

Everywhere I looked, there were problems. The writing seemed stilted. The characters felt flat. And the plot? Boring with a capital "B". Every time I opened the file, I groaned and closed it again. I went on like this for a couple of weeks.

Then I was driving home from my shift at our community center's local volunteer-run library. It was pouring down rain and my oldest son, who is 18 and also a member of my writing group, was with me. As it usually does, our conversation turned to writing and our current projects.

I rounded a corner and the headlights of my truck swept over a cluster of rocky brush at the edge of the woods bordering the road. For a split second, it looked like a body lying there in the rain. Suddenly, I had an idea. And this idea led to so many other ideas.

• What if it was raining during the opening scene of my book?
• What if it rained that entire weekend?
• What if the body was found in the rain?
• What if the rain washed away some of the evidence?
• What if...?

The ideas rained down until they formed a stream of thought that spilled into the rut and, as a result, ejected me right out of it. I got home and started writing up a storm, making small tweaks that added up to big changes.

Now my characters have a reason to be excited. The story directs the plot. And I can't wait to find out who killed off old...well, you'll have to read it to find out!

What do you do when writer's block hits? Are you likely to sit and wallow in it? Do you have any tried and true tips to share? Let's discuss them in the comments section!

On Sherlock and Siblings

Did you see "The Abominable Bride" episode of Sherlock? My family loved it so much that we saved the DVR'ed episode to watch again on Sunday afternoon with one of the neighborhood kids.

The first time I watch something, I'm almost always multitasking. #TheStruggleIsReal as a dear friend would say. The second time around I pick up on all the details I missed before.

What I Noticed While Watching the Second Time

This time I picked up more details about the relationship between Mycroft and Sherlock. From the introduction of these characters in "A Study in Pink" it is clear they have a love-hate relationship. Despite their snarky barbs directed at each other, we learn Mycroft has his younger brother under surveillance.

During this most recent episode we once again see Mycroft let down his guard about his true feelings for his brother when he says, "I was there for you before. I'll be there for you again. I will always be there for you." Why wouldn't want Mycroft for a big brother? (Okay, fine. There is the surveillance bit.)

5 Sibling Pairs from Fiction

Here is a list of other popular sibling pairs from fictional sources, be it book, film, or some other medium:

1. Jem and Scout - If you do not love this brother-sister duo from To Kill a Mockingbird, then I am not sure we can be friends. (Fine, we can still be friends. We just won't discuss this.) And to avoid giving away spoilers from Go Set a Watchman, I won't say any more about them.
2. Luke and Leia - There I was, eleven years old, wondering if Luke and Leia would get married when all of a sudden it's revealed they're brother and sister. What the Ewok? That's a plot twist that will live on for several generations.
3. Cain and Abel - The original siblings straight from the Biblical tale, these brothers have inspired some of the best sibling rivalries ever to pop up in fiction, whether vintage classics or references from current pop culture.
4. Zan and Jayna - One Saturday morning during my childhood I was watching Superfriends, when Jayna turned into this giant eagle, and Zan turned into a bucket of water which Gleek carried while riding atop Jayna's back. I guess you had to be there, but it really made me wish I had a wonder twin who shared a super power with me.
5. Elizabeth and Jane - On the surface, you might think these sisters from Pride & Prejudice, who could not be more opposite, would rival with Mary and Edith from Downton Abbey for the Most Competitive Siblings award. They actually get along well, and meddle in each other's affairs for helpful reasons.

The world has no shortage of siblings. While Sherlock won't return until 2017 (The horrors!) we'll at least see a few more weeks of Downton before it wraps up. Here's one of our first looks at Mycroft Holmes.

Who are your favorite fictional siblings? How do they stand up to your real-life siblings, or the siblings of other people you know? Let's chat about it below!