How to Guide a Critique

By Sarah McGuire, @fireplusalgebra

Part of The Writer's Life Series 

JH: Critiques are part of writing, and Sarah McGuire is back this month with tips on how to guide your critique to best get what you need out of it. Which is perfect timing since I'll be opening up my Critique Connection Yahoo Group on July 1 for the summer session. If you've been looking for a crit group, keep your eyes open.

Sarah McGuire is a nomadic math teacher who sailed around the world aboard a floating college campus. She writes fairy tales and would be just fine if one day she opened a wardrobe and stumbled into another world. Coffee and chocolate are her rocket fuel. She wishes Florida had mountains, but she lives there anyways with her husband (who wrote this bio in less than three minutes!) and their family.

Website | Goodreads | Twitter |

Take it away Sarah…

Five Ways to Create a Memorable (and Distinguishable) Cast of Characters

By Sarah McGuire, @fireplusalgebra

Part of The How They Do It Series

JH: Creating unique characters readers can easily tell apart is a handy skill for any writer. Please help me welcome Sarah McGuire to the lecture hall today, with her great tips on creating memorable characters.

Sarah McGuire is a nomadic math teacher who sailed around the world aboard a floating college campus. She writes fairy tales and would be just fine if one day she opened a wardrobe and stumbled into another world. Coffee and chocolate are her rocket fuel. She wishes Florida had mountains, but she lives there anyways with her husband (who wrote this bio in less than three minutes!) and their family.

Website | Goodreads | Twitter |

Take it away Sarah…

Description: Getting to the Heart of the Matter

By Sarah McGuire, @fireplusalgebra

Part of the How They Do It Series

JH: Description is an important element of any novel, but it's also an easy element to stumble over. We do too much, not enough, or choose all the wrong details to bring our story worlds to life. Please help me welcome Sarah McGuire to the lecture hall today, to share some thoughts, and some tips, on making the most of our description.

Sarah loves fairy tales and considers them the best way to step outside of everyday life. They’re the easiest way, at least: her attempt at seven to reach Narnia through her parents’ closet failed. She lives within sight of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, where she teaches high school creative writing and math classes with very interesting word problems. Valiant is her first novel.

Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indie Bound

Take it away Sarah...