Someone asked me – earnestly, sincerely – for my thoughts on writing a book. My first reaction was – who me? I’ve not yet commercially published my first novel. What thoughts am I qualified to share? If someone were to ask for my thoughts on software development, I could expound at length. How to immerse […]
I’m very excited. I’ve figured out how to make the sometimes revered, sometimes scorned, always discussed writer’s tool work for me. You know the one – the outline. I’d only begun using it because my editor advised that it was the next step for revising the story he’d critiqued. Now I’m outlining because it is […]
Lately, I’ve been visited by writing prompts. The one for last week inspired Beauty Secret. The one for this week inspired Meme’s Lesson, which I’m sharing with you below. Enjoy! ———————————————————————————— My grandmother relaxes in her ancient rocking chair; her head bent over the hand-sized fabric doll she has just sewn. She reaches over and […]
Madame Marchand is, everyone agrees, a timeless, ageless beauty. There are many rumors, but no one really knows how she does it. I’ve been picked to find out. The party is in full swing downstairs. I’ve sneaked up the back staircase and am about to enter her room. My hand lightly touching the doorknob. I […]
The mirror never lies. Every line and wrinkle; each tiny, barely visible fault is mercilessly and exactly reproduced in the reflection. It’s enough to drive a person to insanity. Janelle never faced the mirror straight on. Rather she approached it from the side, sliding herself into view. She always chose to slide in from the […]
Photo Credit: John Alphonse, Dreamstime.com Gasp. Puff. Need more air. Huff. Blow. Nose open. Mouth open. Still…need…more. Keep going. Got to go forward. Always forward. Looked up at the sun. Stupid thing to do. Too hot. My neck… my back… Burning through my shirt. My legs. Exhausted. No water – except the salt water […]
These scenes were in my new novel. I found that removing them tightened the focus of the story. They are hugely relevant as backstory. I am happy to present them as a short. —————————————————- Today I’ll get him. Curtis waited and watched; his excitement feeding on the anticipation of long overdue revenge. Gonna shoot his […]
Some of the characters from my first book are rattling around in my brain clamoring for novels of their own. Unbidden, thoughts for a fantasy trilogy series have popped into my head and are now competing for my attention. (Freudian slip? I mis-spelled ‘popped’ as ‘pooped’). If that’s not enough – there are random scenes […]
A professional boxer is popularly considered to have hands that are deadly weapons. Saying “I have a broken heart” is akin to climbing into the ring with one, being pummeled to a pulp, and then saying “I have an owie.” Heartbreak is not an instantaneous event that leaves a few pieces that can be […]
I started this blog with the intention of writing about everything else but writing. Why? To get my mind off writing. Hmmm…. Writing to get my mind off writing. Probably not the best idea. I’m sure I’ll get back to the Sundance Channel and The Planet, but right now, I’m stressing over submissions. Why, you […]
