The Plot’s the Thing
There are many things I love about writing books. Plotting is not one of them. The Divine Meddler began with a question born out of my near brush with jury duty for a capital murder case. What if, instead … Continue reading →
My Novel’s Breech Birth
What do you imagine when you hear the word “writer?” An artist with her head in the clouds? A man cackling away while he writes about the Cracken taking down a Martian fleet of aliens? Or just a … Continue reading →
Why Critique Groups?
Writing is a solitary occupation. Sure, people talk about writing, discuss what they are writing or hope to write, but at the end of the day the writer faces a blank page. Alone. One wag said writing was easy—just start … Continue reading →
Reaching Your Reader
The “know your reader” advice pops up frequently in books, articles, and talks for writers. While that makes perfect sense, you want that reader (aka hopefully your follower) to be legion. How do I make my book appeal to as … Continue reading →
The Last Bastian
My Blog on May 7, 2015 Every morning of my adult life arrived with a newspaper. Then I noticed that occasionally a so-called journalist, oh so subtly, with a little word choice here and there, slipped in what appeared to … Continue reading →
Plotting
Although writing styles and reading interests change, authors still must have an engaging yarn to spin. Otherwise, no one will read beyond the first chapter, or even the first paragraph. To quote Jerry Jenkins, author of 200 books and counting, … Continue reading →
Characters
I can have the best plot in the world, but without believable, interesting, three dimensional characters, I’m going nowhere. I must populate my saga with people who move, respond to events, struggle, fail, and hopefully succeed, to keep your nose … Continue reading →
Birth of a Novel
My first novel was easy. I slid a fresh piece of paper into my Smith Corona and began with Chapter One. I kept writing until I reached the end of the story. Easy as pie. I think that manuscript lies … Continue reading →
Why I Read Fantasy by S. Arthur Yates
When Susan asked me to write about why I read fantasy I thought, “Sure. That’ll be fun.” It is not fun. How do you explain something almost everyone loves? (Do you like Disney and Pixar movies? Fantasy. Every super-hero movie … Continue reading →
My Life as a Bookworm
I sit in the “Quiet Study” area in my local library three days a week for four hours at a time. It gives me uninterrupted time to write whatever is nearing deadline. When I look up from my computer screen, … Continue reading →