The Writing Life Archives - Page 3 of 12

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

February 9, 2026 By Linda K Sienkiewicz

Love and Other Incurable Ailments by Linda K. Sienkiewicz

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 … Continue reading >>

Switchback Time: How to Play with Structure in Your Novel

January 26, 2026 By Linda K Sienkiewicz

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 … Continue reading >>

Is your Novel Plot or Character Driven?

January 19, 2026 By Linda K Sienkiewicz

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 … Continue reading >>

Why Readers Quit Books—and What Writers Can Learn

January 12, 2026 By Linda K Sienkiewicz

What's the craziest reason you stopped reading a book? Three pages in and the female narrator is getting hot and sweaty in a dingy bathroom stall with a random guy while saying she's never done … Continue reading >>

At the end of the day, ditch the dated language

November 17, 2025 By Linda K Sienkiewicz

Outdated Phrases to Retire for Good: Recently I attended a wonderful reading of poetry and prose.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 … Continue reading >>

How to finish the damn book: Advice from Jacquelyn Mitchard

October 30, 2025 By Linda K Sienkiewicz

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 … Continue reading >>

Linda K Sienkiewicz

Writing life, line by line