Liz Flaherty's Blog, page 102

Giving Thanks

Every year, I take part in a blessings-type-meme over on Facebook (Liz does, too), and it always surprises me how naming those things that I feel grateful for always makes me feel better. This year has been harder than others to give thanks, partly because of the political climate we're seeing not only in the real world but in social media.

I don't like the 'team' aspect of the presidential election. I especially don't like the division that the team aspect has perpetrated...because I think we...

Writerly Fellowship

Right off, let me apologize for the technical difficulties last Tuesday--we came home from the lake and our Internet connection had disappeared. Go figure. Husband did a bunch of stuff that I confess was beyond me and we finally ended up calling in the experts at our ISP. The fixed it and gave us some hints to keep it from happening again, so we are all good now. Funny how my stomach dropped to my socks when we couldn't get on the Internet--I really saw how dependent I am on technology and I'...

Come back, Pollyanna!

Apologies ahead of the time for however this post comes out. I'm just not up for it. Nan and I were coming home from a truly fun writers' retreat today--it's Sunday--and I was bitching up a storm. I told her I had a blog post brewing, which I've discovered I don't, but the one thing I said that stuck with me is that "the rat bastards have killed Pollyanna."

I'm not going to get overtly political here, although there is a big part of me that wants to. I want to rant and rail and shout recrimina...

Tips for a Happy Conference

Conference organisers Kathy Chung (left) and K.C. Dyer (right) play dress-up As I was telling you last week, I attended the Surrey International Writers Conference in October. It had been a while since I was last at a conference, about seven years. It was long enough that I’d forgotten some things about attending a conference. So here are my tips for attending a writing conference in general and SIWC in particular.

1. Find a way to take notes that’s comfortable for you. At SIWC the worksh...

I'm Writing Again!

I’m writing again!
Man, that feels good to say. Those are joyous, celebratory words that roll off the tongue. Like “I won the Lottery!” and “We’re pregnant!”
I had to do it. I had to stop making excuses and begin writing. Firstly, I have a third book that needs to be written before my first two books are metaphorically covered in dust and cobwebs and everyone has forgotten me. Secondly, I actually had a couple spare hours which allowed me to sit down and get a good start. And lastly, I made it...

A Week's Recap

by Margie Senechal

On Monday, I woke up to my world turned upside down. Literally. I woke up with a mild case of vertigo. Mild, but still substantial enough to have me walking with my arms braced on the walls. 

If you've never had vertigo, it's a lot like just stepping off a ten-minute ride on Tilt-a-Whirl, but the feeling doesn't go away within a couple of minutes.

I know it was a mild case because I wasn't throwing up and most of the symptoms subsided with a dose of Meclizine. But, it's s...

Peep the Playlist for What the Gambler Risks

It's no secret that music plays a big part in all of my books, whether they are stand-alone books or parts of a series. Music actually plays a big part in my life - from the time we wake up in the morning until we go to bed, music is usually playing somewhere in the house.

What kind of music is the best music? All of it, really, depending on what else is going on. When I'm cooking, I'll shuffle through all 1432 songs on my iPhone. I have a playlist for when I'm working out, another for when I'...

Don't forget to vote

Due to technical difficulties (ones that I'm almost sure involved swear words), Nan can't get her post up today.

Since it is Election Day in the United States, please go to this website and read about the 19th Amendment if you need to be reminded of how important it is to vote.

We will return tomorrow--or maybe even later today--with our regularly scheduled program.


Kristi, Margie, Nan, Ava, Jana (our neighbor from Canada), and Liz

The Book Under the Bed

by Liz Flaherty
In this month's RWR, Adrienne deWolfe wrote an article called "Beware the Manuscript Under the Bed." Now, if you're one of those whose first, second, or third manuscripts were published right out of the gate, or if you're an indie whose confidence allowed you to publish them yourselves, neither that article or this post is about you. It's about those of us whose trial runs are down there with the Christmas centerpiece, a sock that went rogue, and a whole flock of dust bunnies.

A...

Adventures in Surrey #SIWC16

Don Maass giving the closing keynote at SIWC 2016
I spent the weekend of October 20 – 23, 2016 at the Surrey International Writer’s Conference in Surrey, British Columbia, a suburb of Vancouver. I had an absolutely fabulous time. This conference was a boost of inspiration. It was also the kick in the pants I needed.

I arrived on Thursday morning and in the afternoon I took in Diana Gabaldon’s master class on Writing Sex Scenes. I figure if anyone knows how to write sex it’s her. And she didn’t...