Author | Editor | Story Coach
Four years ago, a teacher I worked with sent me an announcement for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). His message: “You sound like you might have a novel in you.” His observation came on the heels of our first ever Open Microphone event in the middle school library. The librarian wanted to encourage students to …
At the behest of my Jedi Master, Kristen Lamb, I’ve begun dog-earring a copy of Story Engineering by Larry Brooks. It’s a masterful guide for creating a strong, complex story. If you’re thinking, “I’ve got story structure down,” I thought similarly after highlighting James Scott Bell’s Plot & Structure into rainbow-like proportions. Brooks subtitled his …
As a writer of fantasy, I read different fantasy novels. In doing so, I can experience the methods published writers use to build a world, breathe life into characters and weave a mesmerizing plot. Or I can read the books and criticize the lack of plot, weakness of character arc and believability of the fantastical …
Muse, Greek goddess of artists, gifted her favored ones with inspiration to create fantastic and original works of art: sculptures, paintings, poetry, songs. Actually, lucky for the Greeks, there were nine goddesses. Greek city states produces creative art, I’m sure. Often, we creative types like to blame our personal muse when what we write is …
The dream descended illumined from within Shimmering again Real enough to hold The dream delivered pulled reality’s rein embracing all disdain Dreamer emerges bold Two dreams danced adjoined at the hands intertwining strands Now a single mold One dream dominated emerged in light of day pushing the other away New day dawning cold That dream …
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue” – Proverbs 18:21 Langston Hughes spoke to me in his poem “A Dream Deferred.” Many other words, written and spoken, altered my chosen path on the highway of life. A similar conversation happened on the phone recently. I took a class from WANA International, which I …
I’ve been an editor since I learned to read, always finding errors and mentally rewording awkward sentences. (Isn’t awkward an awkward word to type? The k surrounded by ws just feels so…awkward.) Self-editing can be a whole different ball game. To help me stick to my guns, I purchased the book Self-Editing for Fiction Writers …
Writing is rewriting – E.B. White I guess E.B. White knew what he was talking about since every good writer owns The Elements of Style. Considering the first draft of my novel, I’m beginning to agree to the validity of that assertion. In order to rewrite my manuscript into something remotely readable, I’m going to …
If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins. – Benjamin Franklin School is out. The vacation abroad has ended. Time announces the arrival of full-time writer-hood. The schedule says: Three hours five days per week is allotted for writing. I’ve factored in other times for blog hopping and updating social media. There’s a plan. …
“When you arrive at a fork in the road, take it” – Yogi Berra One journey culminates with a gathering of people whose support made the journey bearable. I’m proud to display my outstanding graduate award and as soon as my diploma arrives in the mail, I’ll be putting it in a place of honor …