I can't believe that Mara is due to be released this coming Saturday! If you don't know, I'll be reading excerpts alongside other fantastic Black Hill Press authors at The Last Bookstore in Downtown Los Angeles. If you're local to LA, please click here for more information.

It's hard to believe that July is already coming to a close. I know that I made so many goals at the beginning, and I'm going to work hard to finish them in the limited time that's left. One of my goals was to finish a lot of writing, and I've been working steadily on that. With that in mind, I have a writing thought to share with you all.

When you're writing a first draft, it's wise to keep it to yourself. Opening your draft (no matter how fantastic it is) up to criticism when you're still working can keep you from moving forward. Once you've completed that draft and given it a bit of polishing, however, it's important to seek criticism from people you respect. Equally important, however, is to really consider the criticism. That does not mean that you have to take it. As a writer, you must decide how to be true to your work and your voice. Nevertheless, it's important to hear people out. If your character's purpose or the point of a scene isn't coming across to multiple readers, ask yourself if that scene or character is necessary.

Many, many times, you will need to cut those characters and scenes completely. Cutting down on fluff lets the rest of the story shine. When writing is too cluttered, it's hard for the reader to wade through. Yes, it's your story, but if you want people to be able to access it, you need to give them a clear path. Make your story's big ideas cohesive and coherent.

Like I said, the end of July is calling. Back to work for me, and hope to hear from all of you very soon about your thoughts on Mara! If you haven't already added it to your "to-read" list, please do. See you cats on the flip side!