I have started writing a historical fiction novel. It was going to involve time travel–which would fuse historical fiction with science fiction. I started out writing with the time travel part. But then I went back to the main character’s childhood, and I’ve stayed there. I have found interesting tidbits from history, and I’ve written … More Writing quandaries
A Novel I was four years old the first time I saw a swastika. As Father unlocked the door of our new house, I noticed a strange symbol embedded in the concrete surface next to the steps. It looked like a twisted cross made out of bricks. “What’s that?” I whispered to Mother. “That’s a … More Ambassador Chapter 1
I am participating in the Writing Contest: You Are Enough, hosted by Positive Writer. Direct link here: http://positivewriter.com/writing-contest-you-are-enough/ Here goes: Please don’t tell them I’m here; I’ve been hiding from them—The Editor and The Critic. When they’re not looking, I sneak away to my offline computer, the one that doesn’t connect to the internet. It … More I am enough–and you are enough too!
I’ve started writing a time-travel, historical novel. There are lots of things floating around in my head, and there are various ways I need to put it on paper before it can be exposed to the “real world.” I made a timeline, and obviously, since there is time travel, there will be a lot of … More Maps of my worlds
Ok, so we are all eating leftover Halloween candy, and now it’s time to plan Thanksgiving. I’m assuming I am cooking, er, re-heating this year, as we should have the house suitable for human consumption by then. As I type this, my contractor is thumping in the attic, right over my head. I also have … More November, a new month, a new start
I thought I’d start with a scripture passage that has been dissected, but I would dissect it yet again. Yes, I know that’s not much of a lead-in sentence, and there is a reason for that. I will get to that later. So Here is Matthew Chapter 4, New King James Version: 4 Then Jesus was … More A stroll in the wilderness.
Notice the last line on this magazine cover: Eleanor & Park’s Rainbow Rowell. Yes that’s really the author’s name. Here’s the full cover: I picked this up at my local Barnes & Noble about a week ago but I had no time to read it. I set it aside. As you may (or may not) … More I call your attention to this:
I am happy to have another story published. This is a Flash Fiction piece, published at 101words.com Here it is: Facing my Opponent Sweat cascades down my head as I peddle, one, two, three miles, uphill both ways. I race along on the treadmill to the beat of my iPod. My opponent’s picture, the one … More Facing my opponent
Like a good novel, real estate transactions are pushed by a ticking clock. The realtor pushes the client forward. No time to think, to research; deadline, timeline, sign on the dotted line. In a novel, the hero races against time to find the bad guy, to stop the bank heist, or kiss the heroine … More Real estate transactions are like thriller novels
How about the guy at the gym that does one set on the machine, doesn’t wipe it off while it drips of his sweat, then paces back and forth through the other machines, with headphones on, singing intermittently and scaring the crap out of each time he starts to sing, and then goes back to … More Things that bug me, aka First World Problems. What bugs you?
There is a feature in a magazine called “Reject A Hit”. It is a parody of what an editor might have written when rejecting a book that turned out to be a huge success. While the magazine seems to like printing submissions that reject classics, such as anything written by Charles Dickens, the dictionary (several … More Hungry for rejection?
Writers are told to follow the rules. After you have proved you can follow the rules, then and only then, may you break them. I disagree. If you have a high school diploma and a college degree, it can be assumed that you know the rules. While I have a deep respect for English grammar, … More And so it goes: Breaking grammar rules, just ‘cuz.
They are having a flash fiction Competition over at Paper Swans. Which story do you like best? What is it that struck a cord with you? http://paperswans.co.uk/flash-fiction-competition-4/
I did not know that brain dump was the technical term; I did not know it had a name until recently. When I scribbled emotions into my notebook, or banged them into the keyboard, I thought I was merely digesting the day’s events. I have trouble putting words to emotions with my speech, so I … More The importance of a daily brain dump
I’ll be mostly offline for November! Chat soon!
I admit it, I fell for it. The title said, “How to turn traumatic experiences into fuel for your writing.” [This was from an email from Writer’s Digest.] Maybe I will learn something new, help me “reach right in there and grab it”–(like my niece said about grabbing the carotid artery during an autopsy…she was … More “How to write better”
I heard about “4th Genre” and I’m like, what the heck is that? So I trot off to Google… and find out that there were three: Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Poetry. Now there is “the fourth” —which is called “creative nonfiction.” Isn’t that kind of like “an embellished memoir in short spurts”???????!!!!!!! From what I have … More There is now a fourth genre for writing
SueAnn Porter 