Meet Betsy
Welcome to my virtual studio. As both a writer and designer, I’m driven by a curiosity about the world. In my studio, I take that curiosity and use it to create new worlds. I write for kids and adults as well as a good deal of freelance non-fiction. Explore to find out more about me, my books, and my thoughts on writing as well as the thoughts of friends who stop by the studio. If you’ve got something you’d like to share reach out to me through the contact form. I’d love to hear from you. Scroll down to read what’s been happening in the studio.
Getting Started On Your Book Trailer
If you’re an indie author a book trailer is an attention-getting way to promote your book. An effective trailer can hook potential readers like nothing else. I knew I needed one for Heroic Care, but creating one seemed overwhelming. When I dug in I learned it really wasn’t. I thought I’d share my insight to help you guys get started on your own book trailers.
Writer’s Toolbox: Table of Contents Plug-In
If you think a Table of Contents app sounds like the finishing touch for your writing project you’re very much mistaken. This interactive document organizer is essential to how I build my drafts and manage my editing process.
Review: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab is a master class in how to carry a premise to its full potential.
Polis Loizou: Bringing a Collage Into Focus
When I heard he had a new book out next month I thought it was the perfect chance to revisit a great interview. I loved Loizou’s insight into the creative process, especially about using journals as a way to create a novel.
Wise Words
I think of this poem often. This week I was thinking of it and the way it relates to the creative life. The work of creation is sending out piece after piece from ourselves. Waiting and hoping for one to catch hold.
Writer’s Toolbox: Capitalize My Title & Canva
It’s good to look professional. Today we highlight two tools to help. Canva will keep all your graphics looking outstanding. Capitalize My Title will make sure your work gives the right first impression.
Writer’s Toolbox: Slides & Number Generator
This is the first of a new series on writing tools and resources. In this, we highlight Google slides, number generators, and coin flip as tools for getting your ideas organized and flowing.
Building Doors
When a publisher contacted me about a submission I sent her over a year ago it felt like a message from another lifetime on another planet. Since I sent it life had blown up and to deal with the fall out I had to re-evaluate what I thought made me ‘legitimate’ as a writer. I had to build a new door to where I wanted to be.
Meet Lori Snyder & The Writer’s Happiness Movement
The Writers Happiness Movement offers free happiness tools for writers such as free weekly online yoga, breathwork, and meditation; free online retreats every …
Launch Date Set
We will be hosting a free virtual book launch Wednesday, April 28th at 7 pm. Join us for reading with some of the authors, games, and prizes. Click here or on “Book Launch” in the navigator at the top to register.
Today we want to salute to the amazing artists who will be adding their visual voice to the collection. Congratulations!
Finding and Hiring A Freelance Illustrator: Three Tips From An Illustrator's Perspective
Having been on both sides of the writer/illustrator relationship at different times in her career, Ariel Mendez understands how difficult it can be for an author to find and afford an illustrator as well as how to work with a freelancer once you’ve found one. In this article, Ariel shares the insight she’s learned with us.
Synopsis How-To
My biggest problem is making my plot seem free-flowing and captivating in the synopsis form. Years ago I got the advice that a good novel needs to be nothing more than, ‘A captivating story told with words that sing.’ The synopsis should reflect that. But how?
Review: SAPIENS
A non-fiction story-arc is often the arc the reader takes from who they were before they read a book to where they are afterward. Sapiens is the epitome of this concept . . .
Fewer words sometimes means more power. Congrats to all these poetry and micro-fiction writing powerhouses who will be featured in the upcoming anthology! Give them a cheer.
A Dialogue-phobes Guide to Writing Believable Dialogue
Ask me to create a setting or a mood? No problem. Words flow out of me like a thawed river set free. Write a sex scene? Easy! (Hey, there is very little dialogue necessary here). But, make my characters talk to each other…hmmm.
Have no fear though, there are solutions. Even I, a queen dialogue-phobe, have found ways to work through dialogue blocks and get my hands moving across the page again . . .
Love! That's all we can say about the short story winners of the Care Anthology. We can’t wait to share their stories with the world. The anthology will be out in late-April. Sign-up for the newsletter to hear when it comes online for pre-order.
Joy in the Details
“I think what’s missing in a lot of writers is an awareness of what’s interesting in your own personal experience. “
Patricia MacLachlan shared so many insights during her keynote address at the Winter Conference of SCBWI, but this quote stood out the most. She was talking about setting the emotional as well as the geographic landscape of our stories. She described how stories need to have a sense of place as well as a sense of being placed emotionally in the heart of real characters. If a writer is to find those two things they need to have . . .
