The characters in our stories embody our writing. They are our thoughts and ideas that drift, bodiless and ethereal through space and time until we anchor them with words. They weigh nothing; they have no voice. Once we’ve written the first words our story begins. Our characters begin to take form. Soon others will join […]
As I sit in Starbucks, drinking coffee and working on my current novel, I realize I’ve been truly blessed in my life. I have a loving family, great friends, a supportive writers group, and the ability to write. Writing never came easy to me. In fact, it had been elusive to me. A foreign concept. […]
After three days of drinking I somehow managed to stumble back home, a ranch style house at the end of a cul-de-sac. Fumbling into my pockets I dug out the keys. The full moon cascaded a bright yellow hue onto the porch. It was then I realized the front light wasn’t on. Hmm. I winced. […]
I began writing my first crime thriller, Things Left Behind, in 2011. Being new to writing, what did I do? I bought a lot of ‘How to’ books at the local bookstore. These provided me with a wealth of information. The problem with taking this as my only course of study is the lack of […]
Do you suffer from writer’s block? If so, you’re not alone. Most of us do from time to time. The words won’t come or if they do, they’re all jumbled. The story doesn’t seem to move in any direction. Or worse—you stare at a blank page or screen for hours. Terrible, I know. It’s natural. […]
As I sit in my favorite chair, drinking coffee and working on my current novel, I realize I’ve been truly blessed in 2017. I have a loving family, great friends, a supportive writers group, and the ability to write. Writing never came easy to me. In fact, it had been elusive to me. A foreign […]
Lars Thompson opened the fridge and looked for something to eat. It had been several days since he’d had a real meal that didn’t come from a garbage can. Life on the streets had never been easy for him, but he was a survivor. He carried a package of lunch-meat, head of iceberg lettuce, a […]
Foreshadowing is a writing tool in which the author hints at what is to come next for the audience. Offering slight hints of what occurs next is a proven way to keep your readers turning the pages to find resolution to the current situation. The key is knowing when and where foreshadowing is needed, and […]
After three days of drinking I somehow managed to stumble back home, a ranch style house at the end of a cul-de-sac. Fumbling into my pockets I dug out the keys. The full moon cascaded a bright yellow hue onto the porch. It was then I realized the front light wasn’t on. Hmm. I winced. […]
Beta Readers are a great resource to tap into when you’re done writing a draft of your story. Over the years, as I have collected lots of constructive feedback on my writing. I’ve learned a few things about how to work with my beta readers. Maybe these tips will work for you. 1. Don’t choose […]