I made up this dialogue quip to keep them straight. "Lay the object down now." "I laid the object down yesterday." "I have laid the object down every day." "Don't lie." "I'm going to lie down now." "I lay down last night." "I have lain many times." Even though fictional stories are most often written in …
Learning From Picky Readers
Call me weird, but I read one star ratings before choosing a book to read from Amazon. Some authors complain that competitor authors troll and leave bad reviews. I have no idea about that, but I find the brutally honest one star reviews point out characterization and plot flaws. With the bad side pointed out, …
Little Moments
It's those little moments of recognition, acknowledgment, or words of encouragement that inspire writers to bare their souls to the world. Write to touch or humor--even if only one.
Sentence Structure Is Like
Today, I like the sentence this way. Tomorrow, I might like it that way. A month from now, it could change all together, Or disappear forever.
Writing SlumpÂ
Chocolate makes it all better :)
Character Spirituality?
Everyone, between radical to atheist, has experienced 'something' in moments of crisis or glorious amazement. Feelings of Deja vu or unexplainable intuitions are common to humankind. Therefore, as writer, why would I create characters that exist in a void? Where does strength or resolve come from? Will characters chant, meditate, or pray? Will they connect …
The Downside of Critiques
There is a downside to receiving critiques from multiple writers/readers. For example, ten people will have ten different opinions on grammar and views of the story which, although helpful to catch minor issues, also adds discouraging doubts into the mix. I end up revising the story and characters so much I hear my main character screaming, "Leave me alone." …
Generational Word Confusion
The children, in my young adult historical adventure novel, sleep on straw-stuffed pallets in 1775. A young beta reader expressed confusion. She was picturing the wooded structures boxes sit on--SIGH. What is another word for pallet, or how do I give further details without becoming wordy from a 1st person point of view? In other words, "I lay Charlie on …
Go Set A Wat…
According to an article published on International Business Times website, March 12, 2015: "Harper Lee: Elder Abuse And Fraud Charges Investigated By State Of Alabama" by Barbara Herman. The state of Alabama is investigating allegations made by a doctor acquainted with Harper Lee, who claims "she did not seem to be lucid when he visited." He fears Ms. Lee maybe be the …
That Comma Thing
Oscar Wilde is credited with the following quote: "I was working on the proof of one of my poems all the morning, and took out a comma. In the afternoon I put it back again." Source: Definitive analysis of Wilde’s comma remark: http://oscarwildeinamerica.org/quotations/took-out-a-comma.html I try, I really do. But as I read all the rules for when, how, …
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