Linda K Sienkiewicz

Writing life, line by line

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Stop pitching your work and start telling your story

May 11, 2026 By Linda K Sienkiewicz

woman holding a blank book in front of her face.

For Writers Who Hate Self-Promotion: I recently attended a Zoom workshop given by Jennifer Mrozek Sukalo on how to talk comfortably about your work—your writing, your art, your book—without … Continue reading >>

Filed Under: Book Marketing & Promo, The Writing Life Tagged With: elevator pitch, personal story, writing

Blogging isn’t dead—maybe you’re just using it wrong

May 4, 2026 By Linda K Sienkiewicz

woman using a laptop

Is blogging still a valid way to create a platform? Maybe you’ve seen headline titles: “It’s Time for Authors to Stop Blogging” or “Why You Shouldn’t Blog Your Book.” And then there’s the … Continue reading >>

Filed Under: The Writing Life Tagged With: blogging, substack, writing

What We Owe Each Other as Writers

April 6, 2026 By Linda K Sienkiewicz

When personal biases get in the way of simple congratulations: My MFA association’s Facebook page is intended to be a place where, among other things, we share our joy and celebrate the rare, … Continue reading >>

Filed Under: Notes on Life, The Writing Life Tagged With: misogyny, writers supporting writers, writing, writing community

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 >>

Filed Under: Love & Other Incurable Ailments, The Outer Banks, The Writing Life Tagged With: cover reveal, how to title a book, novel titles, Publishing, writing

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 >>

Filed Under: The Writing Life Tagged With: Fiction, flashbacks in fiction, narrative time, nonlinear storytelling, novel editing, novel structure, story pacing, when to start a novel, writing craft, writing tips

Is your Novel Plot or Character Driven?

January 19, 2026 By Linda K Sienkiewicz

someone writing at a desk

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 >>

Filed Under: The Writing Life Tagged With: Agents, plot, queries, writing

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About Linda

Award-wining author of two novels, five poetry chapbooks, and one picture book. More here.

Recent Posts

  • Writing eccentric characters in fiction
  • The Power of One Well-Placed “F*ck”: restraining profanity for character, tone, and impact in fiction
  • Drunken sailors, sea shanties, and what does “Weigh heigh and up she rises” mean anyway?
  • From Southern Lit to Midwest Values: Author Karen Garloch on telling the stories we overlook
  • Blackbeard… the Polite Poet?
  • From dumpster finds to new beginnings: love letters turn into a life reboot
  • My Guest Essay on Midstory about reclaiming who you are!

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  • Home
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Linda K Sienkiewicz

Writing life, line by line