Cover art is so much fun.

Being pushed from spring to August is probably no big deal. A lot goes into maintaining a pub schedule -- juggling all the authors and production deadlines and probable sales, etc. Not something for you to worry about.

I should really just go ahead and post what I like about my writing, but somehow when I'm asked that question I go blank. Even on Saturday, in the workshop, I was thinking, "Um, I use commas correctly...?"

I think I can turn a phrase like no one's business.

I'm good at deep POV, whether in third or first person.

We're all very pretty, but we're not so effusive when it comes to ourselves, are we? I can think of a lot of good things to say about both erika and Allyson's writing, though.

I try to be honest, every time.

I have a gigantic voice, I'm told, and I will accept that wholeheartedly.

In my work writing, I'm very good at getting people's half-assed ideas to sound like Something Real.

Things I like about my writing? I have a very distinctive style. I'm good at atmosphere.

In business writing, I'm good at emotion--putting it in, but much more importantly, knowing when and how to take it out.

I'm also good at the Oxford comma.

Just as an exercise in taking a break from self-doubt, it'd be interesting to read what other people really like about their own writing.

I kick butt at creating distinctive minor characters. A great-grandma who adores rock and roll. The street-tough investigator who's also a Rhodes scholar. Real people have quirks. Some real people, though, don't have quirks, so not all the characters can have interesting twists.

I'm good at dialogue. I cheat, though, because I'm just taking dictation from the movie in my head, which is a great timesaver. I fortunately have a knack for showing individual speech patterns.

I can occasionally make myself cry at the emotion in a scene. Yes, I'm a sap, I fall for every competent tear jerking moment (though not so much with darling, big-eyed children, I tend to think more Stephen King than Hallmark when there's a helpless tot in a piece). That said, if it makes me sniffle, then I figure I've got a lock on at least half of my audience.

Thing is, though, I don't know if any of this sort of thing can be taught. I can't say how I do any of this, I just have the ability. Though I guess emotion on a page depends on how honest you're willing to be about dealing with emotion. To be able to depict an emotion, you have to admit you understand an emotion. I've run into writers who think it's too revealing to honestly depict lust or deep love or--most often--true, burning hatred and rage.

I read my old stuff frequently, and while I go, "Bad phrasing, I should switch those clauses," I often enough go, "That's pretty good, and I wrote that" to make me keep going.

I'm good with dialog, and I'm good at starting things. I've learned a lot of writers don't know how or at what point to start the action.