Linda K Sienkiewicz

Writing life, line by line

At the end of the day, ditch the dated language

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Outdated Phrases to Retire for Good: Recently I attended a wonderful reading of poetry and prose. I particularly enjoyed an award-winning short story until I heard the phrase, “truth be told…” I found it so jarring, so out of place, that it pulled me right out of the moment. Maybe that’s why the short story didn’t win first place. Don't use the phrase "Truth be told" in your writing, … [Read more...]

How I Shut Down a Car Wash Thanks to Buick’s Electronic Precision Shift (EPS)

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Neutral? What Neutral? Nothing’s more fun than shutting down the entire car wash because you forgot how to put your newish car in neutral. I aligned the front wheel of the car into the rails as the attendant waved me forward, expecting my car to glide along effortlessly. He gave me the thumbs up for neutral. I froze. I put the car in park instead. Then drive. Wait. Back in park. WTF? My … [Read more...]

Book Marketing Scams: When Praise Comes with a Price

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The Cost of Being Seen: Fellow authors, beware the marketing scam, an approach that plays on our deepest longing to be seen, to be read, and to have our work touch someone. Praise is powerful bait, but it’s a risky roll of the dice. As Dr. J. Herman Kleiger, author and psychologist warns, faux marketers “craft a message that is designed to set the hook for the hungry writer eager to respond … [Read more...]

How to finish the damn book: Advice from Jacquelyn Mitchard

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If it was easy, maybe we’d all have a book Did you know 97% of books started are never finished? One year after I finished and published my first book, I began to worry I’d never finish book two. Luckily I met up— again— with one of my literary heroes at Lost Lake Writer's Retreat, and she gave me the encouragement and inspiration I needed in a workshop. Years prior, Jacquelyn Mitchard … [Read more...]

How Leigh Stein’s Murderless Mystery Sparked My Murder Dream

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A dream invasion just in time for Halloween: After a brief exchange with author Leigh Stein on Instagram about how she wrote a murder mystery without a murder (If You’re Seeing This It’s Meant For You), I dreamt I murdered someone. Or did I? Only my subconscious knows. The dream involved an annoying woman and her grown son who came to my house. I didn't know what she wanted from me, but … [Read more...]