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Megan DiMaria

Author/Speaker

A Prisoner of Hope

Offering hope and encouragement for life, writing, and living a thoughtful life.

A Prisoner of Hope

Offering hope and encouragement for life, writing, and living a thoughtful life.

I post every Tuesday.

Five necessary components to a novel

Megan DiMaria

Jul 16, 2019
1 min

Five necessary components to a novel

Sometimes it good to remember stuff we've already been taught. Elementary, yes—but it's good to ponder the basics of novel writing. One: A sympathetic character that we come to know and care about. If readers simply don't care about your protagonist, they won't read on. Of course, there are some unlikable characters that are found in fiction, but the still must have a grain of sympathy to them, some good quality that keeps them from being 100% evil. Two: Conflict: what happen

Writers: resources and tips for crafting better descriptions

Megan DiMaria

May 7, 2019
2 min

Writers: resources and tips for crafting better descriptions

You've heard the quote, "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." It's from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. The saying implies that the names of things don't change what they truly are. Which is true. However, names and words for a particular object or emotion or verb can vary—and for writers, they should. While we don't want to pepper our writing with confusing, million-dollar-words, our writing becomes more interesting and more focused when we find different and uniq

Tips and guidelines for author critique groups

Megan DiMaria

Apr 30, 2019
3 min

Tips and guidelines for author critique groups

Participating in a critique group can be one of the best things you can do to help move forward in your writing skills. A crit group will help you to find flaws or weaknesses in your writing, will encourage you when you’re struggling, will teach you to sharpen your eye to find habitual mistakes you make, and will be an important part of your writing community. Critique groups come in all shapes and sizes. There are both online and in-person groups, and large groups and small

Want to be a writer? Here's some advice:

Megan DiMaria

Feb 19, 2019
1 min

Want to be a writer? Here's some advice:

Want to be a writer? Are you thinking about it? And thinking? START NOW. If you don't know how to start, get a how-to book out of the library OR go to a writers group OR go to a seminar/writers conference OR look online for advice OR simply sit down and open a word document. DO IT. Don't wait for the day it will be easier or simpler. Life is always complicated. Start now. In a year, you'll be glad you did. Practice persistence. Write daily—even if it's only a couple hundred w

How to prepare for a writers conference

Megan DiMaria

Sep 11, 2018
2 min

How to prepare for a writers conference

Are you going to a writers conference this year? I hope so. Next week, I'm going to the ACFW conference in Nashville. Can't wait! Conferences can be a great boost to your writing career. Not only do you learn tips and techniques about writing, you'll pick up great information about the industry and make good connections in the writing world. If you’ve never gone to a writers conference, attending a small, local one is often a good way to understand the rhythm of the conferenc

Guideposts for a writer's journey, part 5

Megan DiMaria

Jul 24, 2018
3 min

Guideposts for a writer's journey, part 5

Welcome! We have been discussing the writer's journey. I likened it to climbing up the side of a Colorado mountain. In my case, I had started on a path that began easily then got more difficult the longer I climbed. I believe that the uphill climb is similar to writing. I have a theory when it comes to pursuing publication: I believe that every writer can have a satisfying writing journey by following five guideposts along their way. The first guidepost we discussed was the S

Guideposts for a writer's journey, part 3

Megan DiMaria

Jul 10, 2018
2 min

Guideposts for a writer's journey, part 3

Two weeks ago, we started discussing the writer's journey. I likened it to climbing up the side of a Colorado mountain. In my case, I had started on a path that began easily then got more difficult the longer I climbed. I believe that the uphill climb is similar to writing. I have a theory when it comes to pursuing publication: I believe that every writer can have a satisfying writing journey by following five guideposts along their way. The first guidepost we discussed was t

Guideposts for a writer's journey, part 1

Megan DiMaria

Jun 26, 2018
2 min

Guideposts for a writer's journey, part 1

A few years ago I had the pleasure of climbing up the side of a beautiful Colorado mountain. I was as prepared as possible—the right shoes, comfortable clothes, a bottle of water, and signs to point me in the right direction. Like many hiking trails, the one I was on started out smooth and was clearly marked. I was fully confident that it would be a piece of cake. Then the path began to get steeper, and there were rocks, boulders, and tree roots in the way. I was getting hot

An invitation to see your writing as an act of worship

Megan DiMaria

May 29, 2018
2 min

An invitation to see your writing as an act of worship

One of my prayers has always been that my life would be an act of worship to my God. When I was a stay-at-home mom, I viewed keeping my house and caring for my family to be worshipful. By extension, my writing is also an act of worship. And I’m inviting you to see your writing as an act of worship. To prevent us getting too pride filled, here are a few thoughts to ponder: Don’t confuse stewardship and ownership. Go and read Matthew 25:14-30 (the parable of the talents). God h

How to move from dreaming of writing TO BEING a writer.

Megan DiMaria

May 8, 2018
2 min

How to move from dreaming of writing TO BEING a writer.

So you want to be a writer? Then write! Too many people want to write, talk about writing, and dream of writing. I was in writers' groups with "writers" who never seemed to produce. They frustrated me, and probably themselves, too. I guess wanting and dreaming is a starting point, but at some time you've got to move from wanting to write, talking about writing, and dreaming of writing to the actual work of writing. I dreamed of writing long before I sat down to a keyboard and

How to create a writer's affirmation to stay focused on your goal.

Megan DiMaria

May 1, 2018
2 min

How to create a writer's affirmation to stay focused on your goal.

Remember when the dream of writing a novel first bloomed? How exciting that was, right? And then time wore on, and your writing career didn't reach the apex you'd hoped it would. I'm here to tell you that now is not the time to stop. You've started, don't stop! Everyday, go to the spot where you write, sit, and get cracking. Maybe you're tired of the struggle. Guess what? You're not alone. But it's the writers who continue on the journey who get the results. I'm glad you sto

Three Simple Steps to Move You from Dreamer to Writer

Megan DiMaria

Apr 17, 2018
3 min

Three Simple Steps to Move You from Dreamer to Writer

Have you ever just wanted to give up? Or perhaps you haven't even started yet. When we have a BIG dream the trouble is, well, that it's so B-I-G. We don't know where to start, or if we know where to start, we're still overwhelmed. Let me encourage you. You start with one small step and then build on that. You know that trite axiom: you eat an elephant bite by bite. That saying has stuck around for so long because it's true. Step One: Your dream. From now on stop referring to

What it's like to switch from editing to writing mode again

Megan DiMaria

Apr 10, 2018
1 min

What it's like to switch from editing to writing mode again

After revising my completed manuscript (which was a big job), I’m excited to switch gears and head back into writing mode. I’m one quarter the way through my current wip (work in progress), so my story's fairly fleshed out, and I'm raring to go. Honestly, it’s a bit disorienting to leave my story set (mostly) in 1969, as well as the 16th, 17th, 19th, early 20th, and 21st Centuries behind and slip into another time, another setting, and pick up with different characters. I’m e

16 Writing Techniques Explained in terms of Disney Movies

Megan DiMaria

Mar 27, 2018
1 min

16 Writing Techniques Explained in terms of Disney Movies

Scene. Symbolism. Dramatic irony. Allusion. And the list goes on. There are several literary techniques that improve your writing. Do you know what they are? Do you know how to use them? I like to hear the "rules" explained by different sources because sometimes a new way of saying the same old thing will spark my imagination and help me to learn a new point of craft. I'm delighted to share this article, 16 Fancy Literary Techniques Explained by Disney, in hopes it hits the

Writers, get your stubborn on!

Megan DiMaria

Mar 6, 2018
1 min

Writers, get your stubborn on!

See that tree? I came upon it on a hike in the White Mountains of New Hampshire last fall. To me, that tree is the definition of tenacity—which is defined as the quality of holding fast; persistence. And what he greatly thought, he nobly dared. ~Homer That photo captures my attitude toward publishing. I’m the tree; the challenges that come my way are the boulder. Like that tree, I’m not giving up. Sometimes I’ve felt that unseen forces were trying to push me off my path. Have

Are you afraid of failure?

Megan DiMaria

Feb 27, 2018
1 min

Are you afraid of failure?

Are you afraid of failure? To be honest, sometimes I have been. But, I've discovered how to ignore those dark, nagging voices that say I'm wasting my time and efforts. You have to do that also—ignore the voices that doubt your efforts and doubt your talents. I've learned to push past the negative and move forward. When I feel the clouds of doubt coming near, I stop and pray for courage. Sometimes (oftentimes) my feelings still drag, but I act as if I'm brave and continue in m

What does sun-dried hair have to do with writing novels?

Megan DiMaria

Feb 20, 2018
2 min

What does sun-dried hair have to do with writing novels?

We enjoyed a warm winter day yesterday (65 degrees in beautiful Colorado!), and I dried my hair in the sun. Not exactly front-page news, but it was a moment that gave me fodder for writing novels. I’m of the no-moment-wasted camp of writers who tuck memories and ideas into my head like a robin picks up string and scraps for her nest. Drying my hair in the sun was a gift—time to sit and be still and enjoy a truly simple pleasure. The day captivated me with birdsong and sunshin

What do readers to hear while they're reading?

Megan DiMaria

Jan 30, 2018
2 min

What do readers to hear while they're reading?

I know of authors who listen to certain soundtracks while they're writing to inspire them to write with emotion or to add authenticity to their story. But what I'm thinking of today are the sounds you hear while reading a book. It's important to incorporate sensory details (sight, sound, touch, smell, taste) into a story to transport the reader. One of the details that I appreciate when I'm reading is narrative that conveys the sounds the characters are hearing. If the settin

A Writer's Prayer for You

Megan DiMaria

Jan 9, 2018
1 min

A Writer's Prayer for You

We're into the new year. So many folks are clinging to resolutions and goals. Myself? I like to start the year with a prayer—one I'm happy to share with you. It's important to stay focused, press on, and have a sense of hope. For me, the best way to do that is through prayer. Keep moving forward, keep writing, keep praying! And as you continue your writer's journey, remember: Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading. ~Oswald Chamb

Why plot holes are a big deal

Megan DiMaria

Nov 28, 2017
2 min

Why plot holes are a big deal

I love to get caught up in the fictional dream, and one of the worst things that can happen is a gaping plot hole. It doesn't matter if it's a book, a movie, a TV program, or even a commercial—if I feel that there's a hole in the plot, I'm done. Plot holes are a big deal—they jerk the reader from the fictional dream. According to Wikipedia, a plot hole is a gap or inconsistency in a storyline that goes against the flow of logic established by the story's plot. Such inconsiste

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