Linda K Sienkiewicz

Writing life, line by line

Art as resistance: a reminder to love

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No more chaos, I'm exhausted: Confession: I lettered this February’s chalkboard early because I felt compelled to take January’s off the porch before the month even ended. January’s message was cheeky, asking 2026 to be “Please good because I’m tired of chaos.” I guess I was overly optimistic when I lettered it, but of course, who could imagine. Not even one week into the first month of a new … [Read more...]

I finally get to share the cover of Love and Other Incurable Ailments!

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Here it is! When the Regal House design team showed the cover to me, I felt something settle. The envelope. The house. The solitary figure walking toward what she doesn’t yet understand. It captures the emotional truth of the book—that even when life falls apart, something meaningful may be waiting. I don’t have the book in my hands yet, but this cover holds it. How it came to be: When … [Read more...]

A rainy day, a bookstore, and the woman who knew exactly what you needed

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Author’s note: This post was first published in 2011. I’m revisiting it after learning that Gee Gee Rosell, the owner of Buxton Village Books, has passed away. She left a lasting impression on me then—and in the years since, through her continued support of my work and her quiet devotion to stories. When the Weather Sends You Inside A rainy day at the beach is an invitation. The surf goes … [Read more...]

Switchback Time: How to Play with Structure in Your Novel

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Time, Tension, and the Art of Story Structure Think of time in a story as an escalator. Where does your character step on—and where do they get off? On each floor, the world will look a little different. In fiction, switchback time happens when a character is blocked by something in the past they must confront. To get a clear image of your novel’s structure, it can help to first write a … [Read more...]

Is your Novel Plot or Character Driven?

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When I was querying agents and publishers, I found this distinction incredibly helpful, if only because deciding what to highlight in a query letter can feel impossible. Understanding whether your novel is plot driven or character driven makes the job much easier. Here’s why: Plot-Driven Novels: If your novel is plot driven, a query that spends too much time describing your characters’ … [Read more...]