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Caren McVicker
Feb 19, 20243 min read
A Debut by the Numbers
I last posted to my blog 302 days ago when I held a physical copy of Henderson House for the first time. A lot has happened since those...
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Caren McVicker
Apr 13, 20235 min read
Impostor Syndrome?
I've probably fantasized about holding a copy of my very own novel since I was a contributing writer to the Franklin Times—the...
85 views2 comments
Caren McVicker
Feb 4, 20232 min read
My Sandbox Manuscript
This past November for National Novel Writing Month, I experimented with a discovery draft of my second novel, Sequoyah Road. The basic...
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Caren McVicker
May 6, 20223 min read
Adventures in Field Research
This past week, I wandered around the Cherokee Reservation in North Carolina conducting research for my second novel. I say "wandered"...
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Caren McVicker
Mar 29, 20222 min read
Creative Daydreaming
I've broken my writing routine recently to prepare for a road trip. My husband and I are relocating to Florida for a month to be near my...
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Caren McVicker
Feb 1, 20222 min read
The Fear and Exhilaration of Developmental Editing
Several of my writer friends warned me that the Editorial Letter from my publisher might be brutal. They advised me to retreat to a...
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Caren McVicker
Nov 30, 20212 min read
Thank You, NaNoWriMo!
Every November, writers around the world wake up early, stay up late, and consume way too much coffee during National Novel Writing...
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Caren McVicker
Sep 23, 20211 min read
The Team is Reading!
Woo hoo! It's official, the team at Inkshares is reading the manuscript of Henderson House and I can expect to receive my editorial...
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Caren McVicker
Aug 23, 20212 min read
More than one book at a time? Yes!
As most of you know, the draft of my debut novel, Henderson House, is at Inkshares awaiting an editor. Since many readers asked for the...
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Caren McVicker
Jul 8, 20212 min read
Adventures in Editing
Last Friday, I submitted my edited manuscript to Inkshares! I hit the point where the novel was not going to get any better until a...
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Caren McVicker
May 31, 20212 min read
Artificial Flowers
I could boil the inspiration for my novel, Henderson House, down to two words: artificial flowers. Why? Because when I was in high...
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Caren McVicker
Mar 24, 20212 min read
Getting Back into the Groove
I hadn't realized I was in the groove, until I fell out of it. The writer's groove is typically built on the number of words you write...
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Caren McVicker
Mar 8, 20212 min read
The Plot Thickens...
Since this is my first novel, I'm not ashamed to admit that my first draft was pretty thin on conflict and suspense. Even a simple...
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Caren McVicker
Mar 2, 20212 min read
After the Celebration...
Sunday, February 28, 2021, was a pretty great day. I mean, how many times do you win something big, something that matters, something...
52 views2 comments
Caren McVicker
Feb 28, 20212 min read
Henderson House Wins Publishing Deal!
WE DID IT!!!!! Thanks to your support, Henderson House won the 2020 Inkshares All Genre Contest! I’m so grateful to each and every one of...
64 views2 comments
Caren McVicker
Jan 14, 20215 min read
Let's Talk About Beta Readers
Lots of folks have asked me questions about beta readers. What is a beta reader? How many should you have? What do you want from them?...
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Caren McVicker
Sep 25, 20202 min read
Stage a Reading of Your Draft
One of the sections in Your First Novel by Ann Rittenberg and Laura Whitcomb lists ten ways to take your novel from good to great....
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Caren McVicker
Jul 24, 20203 min read
Reading on Writing
Recently, a lot of folks have asked me if I have a writing mentor or coach. The answer is I don't have one...I have many! The moment I...
54 views0 comments
Caren McVicker
May 18, 20202 min read
When Three Players is Just Right
Croquet is one of the few yard games that's fun when only three people are available to play. During shelter in place, I'm learning that...
77 views2 comments
Caren McVicker
May 9, 20203 min read
Cooperation: The New Adventure
Yesterday, I was supposed to leave on a road trip. Not just any road trip, mind you, I was embarking on an epic research adventure for my...
164 views3 comments
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