Being writers makes us describers. We introduce a main character, knowing we are required to describe how our hero or heroine or villain looks, sounds, yes, even how they smell. …
Writing Romance: No Cheating Allowed!
No, I’m not talking about the characters and story line. I’m talking the author taking shortcuts to achieve a goal without motivation. I love romance. God loves romance. Look at human …
It’s 2015, What Are You Going To Do About Your Writing
If you know me just a little bit you know I’m an Ohio State football fan. I have been since I was a kid, even more when I attended the …
Using Body Language to Write Stronger Characters
Sometimes I look up from writing a scene at my computer and my family is watching me. One or two of them look concerned. Another one is muffling laughter behind …
Learning By Reading
I found a book that looked interesting to me on Barnes & Noble’s site.
A story set in the ’30s and had some element of football in it. So I downloaded it.
Devoured it. The story captured me. The writing… I didn’t spend half my time rewriting the sentences in my head or pondering why the character was acting without proper motivation.
I told Susie, “You have to read this book!”
And, as it was set in the ’30s and had football element to it, she was keen to give it a go.
Two days later she emails. “I’m mad at you! I stayed up until 2:00 a.m. reading that book.”
By now, I’m dying to talk to her about it because it had some fascinating elements. But she halted me from gushing on and on until she finished.
THEN, we had a long talk, breaking it down, decided what worked, what didn’t, why we liked it, how we could learn from this author.