Tweet I’ve been doing a lot of research for a picture book idea I’ve held for a while. Research was my job for many years. I worked for various organizations researching diabetes in youth, healthy aging and the criminal justice system for different parts of my life. But I find the most joy from history, particularly understanding my past. Belonging I was born and raised on Oahu. I’m Japanese American, so I never felt like I belonged in Japan, but I’m not from this land either. It’s a weird place to be especially in the times we’re living now. Listening…
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Tweet It’s been too long since I posted here. And hopefully I will have good news to share soon. I have a lot of plans for 2024. Do you? I’m going to redo this website, continue to write for kids and the environment. Personally, I’m also focusing on my health in 2024. You know how you always say that, but health is kind of the last thing on your resolutions list? After being hit with a lot of viruses these last few Covid years and then getting what appears to be Long-Covid, which I’m still recovering from, I’m not just…
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Tweet If you’re on here, it’s likely you’re a writer so you know what you really want for Christmas. But this gift is for you to share with all your nonwriter friends and family members who say hurtful things unintentionally. Pass this along so they get what you truly desire this holiday.
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Tweet Just this Thanksgiving, I sent out a silent prayer of thanks for an inbox void of rejection letters. Guess what I received a few hours later? Thank you agent for taking time from your busy holiday schedule to decline my manuscript! In my writer’s critique group, I am the only one who has sent over a 100 submissions with not one acceptance letter. Yet, I continue to work on my craft every single day. Am I crazy? I just have faith that with time and hard work, I’ll eventually get there. But even I lose hope every once in…
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Tweet I haven’t done this in awhile so a lot of what’s here is entirely new. If you have a friend or family member who is a writer (Psssttt…these are all great gifts for yourself), they may appreciate one of these writerly Christmas gifts this year. For writers who write for children: SCBWI membership is not cheap. It’ll cost you about $95 or $65 for students. But the Society of Children Book Writers & Illustrators offers great workshops, information and other resources for writers who are serious about writing for children. For all writers at any stage: Writer Digest or The…
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Tweet Since Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, I’d thought it’d best to cover the topic of how to make an editor fall in love with you your writing. The key is to approach your new connection as you would a new relationship. Most writers take for granted how busy editors are and they send off an email as if they were already well-acquainted. But it’s a process. Take it slow and you’ll skip the fling and end up in a long, mutually satisfying relationship. 1) Get to know them.You don’t want to come across as a stalker so…
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Tweet I always post a Christmas wish list for writers every year. One year I even made a little holiday ditty. This year with a new baby and a writing business, I don’t have much time to create a song or free marketing tips for you writers out there. But you can check out this old post for that. This post is all about the fun things we writers secretly wish for at Christmas. Let it inspire you to find the perfect gift for the writer friend, employee or consultant on your list. 1) For old school fun: writing utensils Why?…
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Tweet There’s lots to keep you busy in December. Need I list them? Christmas, Hanukkah, gearing up for your Resolutions list come January. But there are a handful of things you won’t want to forget while you’re busy making a list and checking it twice. Here are 5 things you don’t want to miss if you’re a freelance writer: 1. Say, “Thanks!” We often forget what it was like when we had no clients. When there were no deadline, no phone calls, no projects in the near future. Or worse, when we had nightmare clients who were worse to…
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Tweet I’m sure you’ve read enough posts, articles and books to make you feel insignificant and insecure as writer. While most advice is given with good intention and can provide necessary tutelage for the beginning writer, over a period of time they can make you feel like you’re doing everything wrong and incapable of doing anything right. Just for one day, why not let loose ends lay? Instead of worrying, defending, cowering in the shadow of another un-dotted i and crossed t, give yourself a break. For Valentine’s Day, instead of roses, balloons and a box of mystery chocolates, give…
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Tweet This post was inspired by two writers. If Cathy Miller’s post and Michelle Rafter’s post got married, then in my warped mind, they’d created this baby of a post. I don’t know if this is a Hawaii thing, but my friends and family loved the 12 Days of Christmas (the song, not just the real thing). So this is my ode to both the holidays and freelance writers. Here we go: On the first day of Christmas my clients gave to me a payment sent effortlessly On the second day of Christmas my clients gave to me two dollar a…