Writing in any genre is never just cerebral. We draw deeply from experience and emotion. But, I have to say that writing a memoir really scrapes to the bone. This isn’t a bad thing. If anything, the process is intriguing.
Like time travel, you meet yourself at different stages, getting into your […]
“Okay, I get it. Let’s move on.” Yes, I talk to myself. Sometimes this occurs at the grocery store, but most often when I’m reading a passage of description that spans pages.
Pacing is key to a good story. If the story is too fast, the reader can become lost. “Wait a minute. What just […]
For me, September brings a different energy. The laid back holiday mode or sometimes heat addled sluggishness of summer, gives way to a sense of newness.
Perhaps it’s the memory of going back to school, which contains a hopeful element and the chance to start out fresh. Or, it could just be a subtle change […]
The internet gobbles up vast tracks of time, but you can put that time to good use by checking out writing sites. Many of these sites offer a plethora of information. I started writing in the mid-nineties, spurred into taking up the pen from an insistent story in my head. The library offered stacks of […]
I’ve been asked to give a workshop about the first step to publishing. In order to publish a quality book, editing is key. After your own edits and re-writes, it’s important for a professional to edit your book. By doing the initial edits and read- throughs yourself, you’ll save your editor time and yourself a […]
Writing a short story can be highly engrossing. Your creative processes are engaged. The end result is positively speedy compared to writing a novel. If you are writing a novel, shifting your focus to a short story can be energizing. You’ll find yourself feeling fresh when you return to the novel, as if returning from […]
Writing is a solitary venture. We hole up for hours, head down, fingers tapping at the keys. Sometimes, it is eye opening and uplifting to meet with other writers to read and listen.
This last weekend, I attended the Mad Hatter’s Potluck for Writers. This was a dinner party to welcome spring and its accompanying […]
Consider using photographs or paintings to write a scene. Choose something that evokes a specific feeling for you, and write a few paragraphs. I chose this painting of the flicker at dusk. For me, I feel a sense of peace, settling in, thoughtfulness. What do you hear? What does the air smell like?
Looking through […]
I’m a bit of an odd duck, or maybe just sensitive. When I read a book or watch a film, I’m always looking for something uplifting. Stories are at the core of our development as humans. And story telling is the most ancient form of learning.
It’s in our nature to want our protagonist to […]
