A Wake Up Call Dorothy Skarles has been one of my critique partners for some time. She has also been a teacher and a great supporter of my writing. Two years ago, she lost her husband, and as a result, her will to write. I considered this a shame and a great loss, not only for herself, but for all […]
For Writers
Miracles All Around Us / Why I Write Fiction
The December issue of Oprah Magazine has a special feature called Miracles All Around Us. It introduces miracles “easily missed if you’re distracted,” and marvels “hidden in every corner of our lives.” It begins with “The Awe Tour,” which takes you to spots on Earth where you can see, hear, touch, and smell mysteries and curiosities “dreamed up by nature” […]
Complications Worksheet
I’d like to share a plotting worksheet with you that I found very helpful in revising my novel. It was written by Martina Boone, one of the publishers of Adventures in Children’s Publishing. Don’t let the blog’s title, Adventures in Children’s Publishing, fool you. Most of this blog’s content, as well as this worksheet, apply to ALL fiction, not just children’s fiction. Here’s a sampling of Martina’s […]
Bereavement / Are You a Couch Potato?
Today, guest blogger Dorothy Skarles shares a note she received from her brother-in-law that relates to all memoir writers. To this, she adds another installment in Dash Off a Memory, Create a Memoir, by revisiting a subject she knows well–Bereavement. Welcome Dorothy. Are You A Couch Potato? This morning, my brother-in-law sent me this little note, and since I feel the sentiment goes […]
Your Own Custom Blog Signature
Have you ever wanted to add a custom signature to your blog to make your posts more individual and stylish? I found a site that helps you do just that.It’s called MyLiveSignature. I used their free signature-creation-wizard service to come up with the signature at the top and bottom of this post. Your Very Own Custom Blog Signature […]
Incorporating Fragments of Conversation Into Fiction
For a homework assignment in a creative writing class at UCDavis Extension, I was asked to write an incident that included a fragment of conversation, keeping as close to the actual incident as possible. 250 words. Next, I was to write an invented scene containing that same fragment of conversation. 250 words. In other words, I was to: Incorporate […]
