norma-jean

#23 Teens on the Scene: Teens and the Coveted Driver's License – Or Is It? Part I

Surprising Statistic This Teens on the Scene post does not spotlight one teen, but rather focuses in on a new trend among teens. It concerns a statistic I read ...

The Incidental Character in Your Novel Requires a Deft Brush Stroke

Three Types of Characters In your novel, the stars on center stage are the main characters. Next in line are secondary characters. These secondary personalities...

My little garden (today)

I know that I am not that active lately. Many people are not that active since the prices dropped. That's not my case. It's summer (despite the bad weather) and...

Too Much Zucchini? Dealing with All That Summer Squash

After a recent trip, I returned home to find that our small garden had become a Jurassic jungle. The squirrels had eaten some of the vegetables, but they left t...

My Tiny Garden Paradise -- July Garden-Growing Update

My Tiny Garden Paradise I know tomorrow is July 1, but I’ll be busy tomorrow. So I’m putting in my report today on the last day of June. This photo tells how ev...

Yo Novelist -- Give Your Character a Job

Midwest Small-Town America I remember a number of years ago, thinking that I was severely handicapped as a novelist because I had not traveled extensively. Nor ...

The Novelist’s Thank You List

My Saying I have a question for you. How has your writing been going? • Downhill? • In a slump? • Stalled out? • As good as can be expected (under the circumsta...

Float & Fish Our Local River (Video Journey)

We live in a pretty special place. With some of the highest concentration of springs in North America, the Ozarks of Southern Missouri have some awesome waterwa...

Take a walk with me around the homestead! ❀❀

Summer life is so busy on the homestead! All of the plans we work on over the winter are finally put into action and it's so exciting! We finally got some much ...

Novel Writing – Indulgence or Obligation?

Strange Occupation Ours is a strange occupation. I’m talking about writers. If you narrow it down to novelists—the occupation is even more strange. Accepting th...

Color Challenge - Thurs Green - Tiny Green Frog on a Big Green Bucket

Here is my first ever post for the Color Challenge. I love seeing other posts, but never entered in. However, yesterday I stepped out on my patio, and here was ...

Quick! Hand Me the Barf Bag – Motion Sickness

I have a question for you. Have you ever been car sick? How about seasick? (On a cruise perhaps?) How are you on the rides at the amusement park? Motion sicknes...

3 Sisters Indigenous Gardening Technique (Vlog)

Today I am highlighting one of the oldest and most well known polycultures; the 3 sisters. > Although there are more than 3 elements, the core trio is corn, bea...

Yet Another Plot Definition -- This One From Ronald Tobias

I have a collection of plot definitions that I have accumulated through the years. I figure if I keep learning someday I'll REALLY know what a plot is. Just kid...

#22 Teens on the Scene: The Boy Who Played With Fusion

In this Teens on the Scene post, we take a look at a real live “mad scientist.” Ha. Just kidding. But there was a time when his parents weren’t really sure. Whe...

Measuring Your Novel-Writing Growth

As we novelists struggle along in our daily routine of writing our novels, it’s difficult—if not almost impossible—to perceive the growth that’s taking place al...

The Writing Life: I'm the Sentence, Gotta Love Me

In this episode of The Writing Life, we're taking a close look at the basic building block of writing -- the sentence. Have you been guilty of taking sentences ...

5 Ways to Reveal Your Character’s Emotions

The emotions of your reader toward your character (or characters) is not built all at once. It is built slowly and steadily throughout the course of the novel. ...

The Writing Life: My Fiction Quill Lay Unused

In this episode of The Writing Life, I'm bouncing off a poignant quote from author, Nathaniel Hawthorne. His heart was grieved because, as he worded it, "My fic...

Car Seats Designed So Baby Can See Out the Windshield? How Safe is That? Not!

In my teen novel, Flower in the Hills, main character Latina meets a family with a little girl named Althea who is special needs. Latina makes a gift to the fam...