“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” ~ Stephen King
So, you want to be a writer. Well, then, write. And write some more. And, don’t quit.
Your story matters. I can’t express this enough. YOUR STORY MATTERS. Somewhere, there is a person who needs to hear what you have to say. Seriously, if you’re a reader, and if you are a writer, then you better consider yourself a reader, think about the last book that resonated with you, the one that pulled at all your emotional strings, tied them in knots, unraveled those knots a little, only to tie them in some more knots and leave you thinking about what’s really important in life. How did that story affect you? Which of your morals did it force you to question? Now, consider how your story, the one that matters, will affect others.
Below, you’ll find several resources on writing. Some will be in book format, some through websites, and others through social media follows. Plus, I have software links for the different writing programs I like to use.
AND, at the bottom of the page, you’ll find workshops I offer on writing. Hopefully these aren’t your typical workshops, but ones that help you gather all your little idiosyncrasies and help you think outside the box to create a magnificent story.
This is a constant work in progress.
Craft Books
These are all books I have in my library, physical and audiobooks.
Websites
These are sites I visit regularly for my own personal learning.
Jamie Gold- Worksheets for Writers
Master Class 16 Writing Tips for Beginners
Master Class How to Structure a Story
Master Class Character Development
Software
I use these two pieces of software, along with Microsoft Word in my daily writing.
Christina is a multi-published author in historical romance, contemporary romance and nonfiction. She is a former contest junkie whose works have been finalists and winners in multiple contests. She now takes every opportunity she can to volunteer as a writing contest judge. She loves brainstorming new ideas and being challenged to step out of preconceived boxes. Her first contract stemmed from a query letter contest, and she has since sold multiple stories based on winning premises.
Coming March 2026 to Fantasy, Futuristic, and Paranormal– The Art of Courtly Love-A Timeless Quest of Passion, Chivalry, and Feminine Power
Strategies for Writing to Contests
Have you ever entered a contest or wanted to? This workshop may not get your work as a finalist, but it will help you be strategic about which contests to enter and how to write specifically for that contest. She’ll discuss evaluating your goal and risk vs. reward, entering the correct categories, writing opening and closing hooks, adding your synopsis, submitting your entry and evaluating the results.
Options available:
- Access to the file.
- Available February 5, 2024: An interactive one-on-one with comments as if Christina is a participating judge, up to 15 pages.
3. Available February 5, 2024: Contest judge first 5 pages evaluation.
4. Available February 5, 2024: Contest judge first 15-pages evaluation.
5. Available February 5, 2024: Contest judge first 30-pages evaluation.
Please note, there will be limited spots available. If you’re interested, please contact Christina through the contact form to reserve your spot.
This Ain’t no Ted Talk: Something Tried and True into Something New
Are you tired of hearing editors and agents saying they want something fresh and new? This interactive workshop encourages authors to explore possibilities of an old idea and expand it into a premise that is sure to catch the eye of publishing professionals.
“There is no Idea Dump, no Story Central, no Island of the Buried Bestsellers . . . two previously unrelated ideas come together and make something new under the sun. Your job isn’t to find these ideas but to recognize them when they show up.” Stephen King
Brainstorming
Coming soon
Write from Where?
The writing process can be daunting, especially knowing where to start. Some say just go for it, free write wherever you want. Some say write from the middle. Others advise writing the ending first. Let’s not forget about starting with the Happily Ever After. BUT what about the beginning? After all, it is the natural progression of things, or is it? This workshop will explore the benefits of each “where”, why they are important to plotting your story and how they can help writing the dreaded synopsis. This workshop will also explore the possible ways to begin your beginning. AND as a bonus, attendees will get a look at the plotting guide Christina uses when beginning a new story.
Coming Soon
Open the Vein: Emotional Bleeding on the Pages
You’ve read the quotes, but what do they mean to you? This workshop will encourage writers to shove aside the walls keeping them from infusing their emotional life experiences into their writing and create an authentic, genuine, relatable story for readers to devour.
Coming Soon!!!