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May 3
1 min

Gardening and writing

For those who love to plant flowers in the spring, there is nothing like cleaning out the beds and putting new plants into the soil. The...

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LV Ditchkus

Mar 18
2 min

Some middles have no problems

In our 40s, some people have a mid-life crisis and dwell on lost youth to the detriment of enjoying their remaining years. Those who...

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Writing one piece at a time for a series

LV Ditchkus

Jan 25
3 min

Writing one piece at a time for a series

Many authors work for years on a novel they never finish. To them, the idea of writing a book series might seem unfathomable. But if...

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Fugitive Ideas – Don’t let them get away

LV Ditchkus

Dec 16, 2020
1 min

Fugitive Ideas – Don’t let them get away

Ask any writer what one of their greatest frustrations are, and they will have a long list. However, that list will most likely...

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LV Ditchkus

Oct 24, 2020
2 min

Letting your baby rest

Did you know wild elephants average just 2 hours of sleep a night? Thankfully, humans typically get more sleep than that. But suffice it...

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Critique Groups – Do you need to join one?

LV Ditchkus

Sep 1, 2020
1 min

Critique Groups – Do you need to join one?

Assume you’ve written the perfect novel, and you’d like to start looking for an agent or consider self-publishing. How do you know your...

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LV Ditchkus

Jul 28, 2020
2 min

Why contribute to an anthology?

First off, what is an anthology? An anthology is a published collection of short stories or poems. It can be written by different authors...

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Is writing a novel in a month for everyone?

LV Ditchkus

Jun 24, 2020
2 min

Is writing a novel in a month for everyone?

If you’ve never heard of NaNoWriMo (https://nanowrimo.org), you might be amazed or in awe of what it does. This organization supports the...

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LV Ditchkus

May 5, 2020
1 min

Is Bigfoot the next big thing?

Check out the Speculative Fiction Writers Group post from L.V. Ditchkus: https://specficwriters.com/is-sasquatch-the-next-big-thing/

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LV Ditchkus

Mar 14, 2020
2 min

How to approach self-editing

As a new writer, I loved developing the first draft. My creative juices flowed, and new ideas gave me goosebumps. The editing process...

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LV Ditchkus

Feb 4, 2020
1 min

What makes a good book?

Everyone has ideas about what they are looking for in a good book. Here’s what I want: 1) Characters who are believable and make me want...

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LV Ditchkus

Nov 18, 2019
2 min

Short Stories versus the Novel

Of course, the primary point is that size matters. While there are a variety of views on how many words are in each, in my opinion, short...

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Traditional versus self-publishing journey

LV Ditchkus

Oct 17, 2019
2 min

Traditional versus self-publishing journey

The decision an aspiring author makes when choosing between the traditional and self-publishing routes can be a game-changer – both for...

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LV Ditchkus

Aug 17, 2019
3 min

The Pitch

In a couple of weeks, I will attend a major writers’ conference. So it’s time to tune-up my pitch (aka logline). I’ve been reading the...

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LV Ditchkus

Jul 12, 2019
2 min

Who are ‘your people’?

Some view writing as a solo journey, but many, including myself, rely on others to help improve their craft and learn about what’s...

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LV Ditchkus

Jun 7, 2019
1 min

About rules....

Being a former accountant and banking supervisor, I understand the importance of rules. There are boatloads of rules in writing. Not just...

13 views0 comments

LV Ditchkus

May 2, 2019
2 min

On writing characters

Writing characters who are full of life and who readers can feel something about (e.g., love, despise, fear, or empathize with) can be a...

11 views0 comments

LV Ditchkus

Apr 1, 2019
1 min

The writing journey

Everyone starts in a different place with diverse gifts; however, many debut writers take similar paths to develop and promote their...

25 views0 comments

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L.V. DITCHKUS