Resources / Writing
Because TANGLED DARKNESS includes themes of severe mental illness, alcoholism and opioid addiction, the Resources section provides information about these issues, including access to treatment and getting help.
In the Writing section, I’ll blog about my writing journey and where it takes me.
Check out Mary’s latest drama, a psychological thriller short story — BETRAYAL IN THE BALANCE.
Musings of a Retired Psychiatrist | Episode 1
Where Have I Been? I pulled up a chair, facing the client with no obstacle between us. Okay, she’s not a client. Let’s call her a ‘friend’ who’s here again for another supportive session. She’s been taking the road less traveled lately. One that’s usually unknown to those millennials and gen-Xers. It’s filled with twists…
Update on TANGLED DARKNESS Revisions:
Some of you may be aware that I took a first ten pages ‘bootcamp’ seminar at the turn of the year. It dovetailed quite nicely with another Manuscript Academy Submission Strategy workshop that taught me a lot about the querying process. Beyond learning how to interpret agent responses to queries, I finished with a new…
Learning From Rejections
Out of the ten rejections, I had two agents generously respond with feedback that (especially inone of them) explained why they took a pass. Maybe it’s not surprising that the feedback I gotin ‘bootcamp’ had many similarities. Listen. Two or three years ago, when I was starting thiswhole project, I heard repeatedly: “Writing is rewriting.”…
First Ten Pages Bootcamp
During late October and November 2022, I sent out 17 queries. By the time most agencies, agents, and editors were closed down for the Holidays (around Thanksgiving to mid-December), I had 10 rejections filed away. From what I’ve learned from social media sites, receiving a rash of rejections is a good time (especially if you’ve…
SIX STEPS FOR NEWBIES APPROACHING THE QUERY TRENCHES
If you’re anything like I was, nearing the query process with a debut novel having no ‘business of writing’ experience, it’s difficult to know where to start. I recently emailed a fellow writer facing this daunting task and detailed some things I wish I had known two months earlier. If I could roll back the…
Resources for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders
Tangled Darkness includes themes of alcoholism, the opioid addiction epidemic, and severe mental illness. In the United States, now more than two years into the pandemic, rates of substance abuse and mental health distress have escalated beyond their pre-pandemic high levels. This entry is designed to provide resources for those who are experiencing problems in…