Megan DiMaria
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:...
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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.
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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...
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...
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...
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!...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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