On (not) caring what people think, taking reviews in stride, and defending flawed characters

I’m a sensitive person. My mom said once, “Your radar is always up.” I used to see it as a problem, this pesky radar. I don’t now. The radar is what makes me a good writer. I’m hyper aware of everything around me. I feel things deeply. It can be painful at times, but it — Read More

Letting go of the first draft

I’ve been thinking quite a bit about what to do when I’m done with the first draft of my novel. That time is close. It makes me sad, in a sense. I’ve enjoyed the private project of writing it. Soon, I’ll face the inevitable release of the book into the hands of others. I have — Read More