Tanara McCauley

Culturally Imagined Stories

Category: Writing and Pursuing Publication

  • The Research Pill

    A novel starts off with an idea. If the idea is a good one, it takes root, causes a sort of anxious excitement that makes my fingers itch and stirs up feelings for these yet-to-be-developed characters. I can spit out the first chapter in no time. Maybe even plot out the whole story in a…

  • Authors and Agents and Editors…Oh My!

    I’m going to keep this short. Because I’m supposed to be spending this week just enjoying my family, resting up, and . The girl in the picture has the view I’m missing, but at least I keep a steaming hot cup of luxury on my reading table. So I’m good. Now back to the update…

  • Ready…or Not: An Author’s Pre-Conference Petition (and Parody)

    In less than a week, I will kiss my husband and kids goodbye, board a plane, hoist my carry-on in the overhead compartment, and fly to Indianapolis for the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Conference. I’ve worked on my proposal and one-sheets (all that’s great about your novel on one page), practiced my elevator pitch,…

  • The Elevator Pitch

    I wrote this almost a year ago. Now that my story is finally ready for the pitching stage, I thought it appropriate to share again :-). The elevator pitch. In the writing world, it’s a short summary of your book that can be told to a prospective agent/editor/publisher in the time it takes to get…

  • Paper or Plastic?

    Aside from your regularly scheduled writing time (you do have that don’t you????) how do you write when spontaneous inspiration hits? Do you grab a notepad and scribble away? Or do you drum your fingers while waiting for the computer to boot up (or your tablet to charge, or your kid to pause Angry Birds on…

  • The Writer’s War

    Writing today was a battle. Glory to God…I won. Image courtesy of Lavoview / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

  • Seven Books in Seven Weeks: The List

    I’ve finally compiled a list for my Seven Books in Seven Weeks marathon. Thanks to everyone who posted or emailed your suggestions. It took a while to filter through and decide which seven books would occupy hours of my time over the next seven weeks, but now that the list is done I’m ready to hit…

  • Seven Books in Seven Weeks

    I’m constantly reading. Sometimes, if I’m lucky, I’ll find a book impossible to put down and conquer it in a day. Other times I’ll find one that’s good but I can put it down, so with the day-to-day of family and other responsibilities it’ll take me a little longer to get through it. And last,…

  • It’s My Anniversary!

    Not my marriage anniversary, though the 11th one will be here soon (I swear I just wrote something about the 10th a few weeks ago). But anyhow, it’s my one year blogging anniversary. And honestly, I wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t received a “Happy Anniversary” notice from the server. Where…on earth…does the time go?…

  • Parents Just Don’t Understand!

    “When you become a parent you’ll understand.” Most of us hear this infamous prediction as teenagers. It typically comes on the heels of what we feel is some great injustice to our independence and the ability to express ourselves as soon-to-be-adults. We twist our mouths as if sucking on a lime, mutter a reply we…