<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[hope prose]]></title><description><![CDATA[website]]></description><link>https://www.tarakross.com/home</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Sat, 08 Aug 2026 08:56:15 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.hopeprose.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[The Fourth Stage (and the final cherry) to Revision:  ]]></title><description><![CDATA[STAGE FOUR (TRIMMING AND ICING) The finish line is in sight. That freshly baked story is smelling of perfection, but don't rush out into...]]></description><link>https://www.tarakross.com/single-post/the-fourth-stage-and-the-final-cherry-to-revision</link><guid isPermaLink="false">63cac1dd2182537a3477f6ff</guid><pubDate>Sun, 29 Jan 2023 20:54:59 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1b73d_b720198be03043feabb90f629ccabc2a~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tara K. Ross</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[12 Months of Five Star Reviews! ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Happy New Year! I started a new tradition last year, where I spend time over the holidays reviewing the stories I had the honour of...]]></description><link>https://www.tarakross.com/single-post/12-months-of-five-star-reviews</link><guid isPermaLink="false">63b491d861450061d1faada1</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Jan 2023 19:21:59 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1b73d_6283a07408e24963bd5da694c29772f6~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tara K. Ross</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Third Step to Revision: The Slow Rise of Emotion and Tension ]]></title><description><![CDATA[You've made it through the mayhem that was your first draft and now you have a sequence of meaningful cause-and-effect scenes centered...]]></description><link>https://www.tarakross.com/single-post/step-three-the-slow-rise-of-emotion-and-tension</link><guid isPermaLink="false">63650a3ac45301de759e92f2</guid><pubDate>Fri, 02 Dec 2022 19:13:59 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1b73d_032a7170823c44ca8b2de39184a83349~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tara K. Ross</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Second Step to Revision: Scene Techniques and Plot]]></title><description><![CDATA[Well, friends, you've made it through that first informative read of your story. Congrats! Reading that first messy draft can sometimes...]]></description><link>https://www.tarakross.com/single-post/step-two-scene-techniques-and-plot</link><guid isPermaLink="false">63651b1be7f04af4575f33ac</guid><pubDate>Fri, 04 Nov 2022 15:36:14 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1b73d_190fceeb65b3448b9669f2bf237bf981~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tara K. Ross</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Episode 76: Jennifer Chambliss Bertman (Script)]]></title><description><![CDATA[Jennifer Chambliss Bertman is the New York Times bestselling author of the Book Scavenger series and Sisterhood of Sleuths. Book...]]></description><link>https://www.tarakross.com/single-post/episode-76-jennifer-chambliss-bertman-script</link><guid isPermaLink="false">63499c1e296982ed6a73a78a</guid><pubDate>Fri, 14 Oct 2022 17:35:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1b73d_d48e6237dba64734aa73efe656a6807a~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tara K. Ross</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The First Step to Revision: Read the Recipe! ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Welcome back to the first deep dive into the revision process. Today we are starting with a step that I never used to complete, but like...]]></description><link>https://www.tarakross.com/single-post/the-first-step-to-revision-read-the-recipe</link><guid isPermaLink="false">62baff95d23c6e55bafacad1</guid><pubDate>Fri, 01 Jul 2022 02:36:49 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1b73d_19bc65022b9e4eef9990ca02c174fc61~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tara K. Ross</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Revise your Story in Four Essential Steps (The Cupcake Method) ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Woohoo! You completed a messy first draft during NaNoWriMo or over whatever time frame you needed (no judging here). Congratulations! The...]]></description><link>https://www.tarakross.com/single-post/revise-your-story-in-four-essential-steps-the-cupcake-method</link><guid isPermaLink="false">62829338488304074e3b1bae</guid><pubDate>Fri, 03 Jun 2022 18:55:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1b73d_afe93e1f979345ff96f948def1116a7b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tara K. Ross</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[In like a woodpecker, out like a chickadee ...]]></title><description><![CDATA[The birds are returning from the south. Warmer days are ahead. Have you ever heard the phrase, "In like a lion, out like a lamb" to...]]></description><link>https://www.tarakross.com/single-post/first-came-the-woodpecker-then-came-the-chickadee</link><guid isPermaLink="false">62225e9b931a6beab34803ff</guid><pubDate>Fri, 04 Mar 2022 19:09:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1b73d_d171d54ee7514fbaa610049020be6dff~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tara K. Ross</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Twelve Months of Five STAR Reviews]]></title><description><![CDATA[Every December, I make an attempt to update my Good Reads profile to include all of the books I've read over the course of the year....]]></description><link>https://www.tarakross.com/single-post/twelve-months-of-five-star-reviews</link><guid isPermaLink="false">61cf29bea58da20016aa9468</guid><pubDate>Fri, 31 Dec 2021 17:03:07 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1b73d_d5dea110c0384e4395bfe76631680b9d~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tara K. Ross</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Power of Poetry]]></title><description><![CDATA[Mental illness is something I want to be normalized within our community, whether that is through conversations, stories, songs, or poetry. ]]></description><link>https://www.tarakross.com/single-post/the-power-of-poetry</link><guid isPermaLink="false">60e715bdacef720015cf573d</guid><category><![CDATA[Posts by You]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 13 Jul 2021 15:09:34 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1b73d_3cf2144cd1a440e59e247ba0b89f3067~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tara K. Ross</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Turning Query Trenches into Tree Houses]]></title><description><![CDATA[At long last, you’ve written those two glorious words at the end of your manuscript *cue Glee-inspired jazz hands*. You then went back...]]></description><link>https://www.tarakross.com/single-post/turning-query-trenches-into-tree-houses</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6061e309ac3ae70041aa7c5d</guid><category><![CDATA[My Writing Journey]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 29 Mar 2021 16:21:10 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1b73d_8093a5ef6fce48f0802a44f9a9a83d9f~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tara K. Ross</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Be the Superhero of Your Own Epic! Story]]></title><description><![CDATA[Writing Brave in a Fearful Time This past week, I took some time out of my three and a half jobs/commitments to indulge in one of my...]]></description><link>https://www.tarakross.com/single-post/be-the-super-hero-of-your-own-epic-story</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5ebd398cc8f1810017e2d6b3</guid><pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2020 19:14:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1b73d_2c2679437d3b4ac797ddacb4dbf69521~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tara K. Ross</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Well Writer:                                               Four Steps to a Better Work Station  ]]></title><description><![CDATA[ If you are in pain, have started to get numbness and tingling or have just started to generally feel stiff here are some simple ways to fix]]></description><link>https://www.tarakross.com/single-post/the-well-writer-four-steps-to-a-better-work-station</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5e9d018a6602de0017846fd9</guid><category><![CDATA[Well Writers]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2020 02:31:57 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1b73d_8cbe48bdb5d74900b76dec600c1de2e2~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tara K. Ross</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Less Anxiety, More Books]]></title><description><![CDATA[When I found out my family would be in social isolation for a minimum of 14 days, the first thing I did was enter into a state of...]]></description><link>https://www.tarakross.com/single-post/less-anxiety-more-books</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5e72e17c4f69ad0017fdd61c</guid><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2020 17:57:57 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1b73d_e160b028cd5e42ce8b3baa5b711b7f4b~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tara K. Ross</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Advent for Authors: Love with McCall Hoyle]]></title><description><![CDATA[The final week of Advent has come and gone, and I have no guilt over posting late on this week’s theme of love. I had a Martha moment two...]]></description><link>https://www.tarakross.com/single-post/advent-for-authors-love-with-mccall-hoyle</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5e08153357d1fa0017ffdad5</guid><pubDate>Sun, 29 Dec 2019 03:08:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1b73d_c686a1dfff9341f1a5048a1269aae0cc~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tara K. Ross</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Advent for Authors: Joy with Wild Bird, by Wendelin Van Draanen]]></title><description><![CDATA[This week's blog post for #AdventforAuthors is all about JOY. Sometimes in the days leading up to Christmas, we forget to slow down and...]]></description><link>https://www.tarakross.com/single-post/advent-for-authors-joy-with-wild-bird-by-wendelin-van-draanen</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5dfd8b96e90c670017ba6aa5</guid><pubDate>Sat, 21 Dec 2019 03:44:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1b73d_cb9fc3a1ffe94a9199da4833ad60f763~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tara K. Ross</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Advent for Authors: Peace with Stephanie Morrill and Within These Lines]]></title><description><![CDATA[This week's blog post for #Advent for Authors is all about PEACE. (And yes, I have peacefully neglected to stay on schedule with Advent,...]]></description><link>https://www.tarakross.com/single-post/advent-for-authors-peace-with-stephanie-morrill</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5df7c9159d4ff200175ee36e</guid><pubDate>Mon, 16 Dec 2019 18:33:58 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1b73d_dedf7dd5cb3247bb9af08f69c165ed07~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tara K. Ross</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Advent for Authors: HOPE with The Edge of Over There]]></title><description><![CDATA[For December, I'm reviving my book reviews blog posts with a four part #AdventforAuthors series. Up first HOPE: with The Edge of Over There]]></description><link>https://www.tarakross.com/single-post/advent-for-authors-hope-with-the-edge-of-over-there</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5df26f2f6a36970017f6d5c1</guid><pubDate>Thu, 12 Dec 2019 17:42:46 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1b73d_d259a64ad68145aea3f6603b4fd395b8~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tara K. Ross</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Squashing Self-Reliance Through Belief]]></title><description><![CDATA[This has been a month of building belief. Belief in what I’m passionate about, but also belief in things beyond my cozy niche in the...]]></description><link>https://www.tarakross.com/single-post/squashing-self-reliance-through-belief</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5d94b7de5935600017ea0e4b</guid><pubDate>Wed, 02 Oct 2019 15:50:50 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e59b87f9d5404a4ebaaccb92ce2582a1.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tara K. Ross</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Audiobook Review of Fawkes, by Nadine Brandes]]></title><description><![CDATA[ATTENTION: Want to listen to this post instead? Click Here! Last month I listened to the audiobook version of Fawkes by Nadine Brandes. I...]]></description><link>https://www.tarakross.com/single-post/the-audio-review-of-fawkes-by-nadine-brandes</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5d3b4b72bc99c3001795a1f1</guid><pubDate>Fri, 26 Jul 2019 19:40:34 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a1b73d_155c7f32dd354cf9b6e3639821a4ecaf~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_600,h_600,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Tara K. Ross</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>