First of all, I didn’t write this, I got it through the Writing email list on the Internet Writing Workshop. I don’t know who originally wrote it, but kudos to you, sir or madame. I’m classifying it as a “writing how-to” post because frankly? It sort of is. *LOL*— You think English is easy??? Read … Read More
Writing How-To: Write Space
Not much has changed in the couple of weeks since I took this picture to post it on an email list during a discussion of writing spaces. Believe it or not, this is my dining room table. We eat on the couch. Don’t ask. The large, blue coffee mug on the left of my laptop … Read More
Writing How-To: Quck Historical Research Tip
Just a quick tip today. Here’s something neat I discovered with my old friend, Wikipedia. (Yes, I know, you have to double-check what you find on Wikipedia, but it’s a great place to start.) If you need to do research on a particular year for, say, a historical romance you’re writing, you can type in … Read More
Writing How-To: Recapturing the Wonder
My dad used to go flea marketing every Sunday morning. One day, he came home with what was, to me, a prized gem: a Smith Corona 2200 electric typewriter, blue, much like the one pictured here. I probably single-handedly deforested a small Latin American rain forest with the amount of paper I ran through that … Read More
Writing How-To: Home, home on the web…
Every writer today should have a web presence. Period. Full stop. Why? Because agents and publishers want to SEE you. If they’re going to take a chance on you, they want to see you’re serious about your craft. The website doesn’t have to cost you anything other than the price of registering a domain name. … Read More
Writing How-To: Getting feedback.
This post was inspired after I read this article, entitled “I Will Not Read Your F***ing Script.” It applies to writers of fiction as well. Now, I haven’t really had the problem the author of the article had. Actually, my problem has been the opposite — who do I ask to read my stuff? Not … Read More
Writing How-To: Solid foundations.
This whole ripping up my carpets to put down new flooring experience has taught me a lot. Including giving me a perfect metaphor for writing. (Bear with me.) The flooring we picked is like linoleum, but it’s not. It comes in planks, like laminate wood flooring, but it doesn’t stick to the floor, it has … Read More
Writing How-To: The list of lists…
What writer hasn’t made a butt-load of lists in their life? I think it sort of goes hand in hand with the whole “I’m a writer” gig. Thanks to the magic of Twitter, I was led to this writers “list of lists” (The (Nearly) Ultimate Resource: 176 Tips for Writers) and thought it was a … Read More
Writing How-To: Tag, you’re it!
Dialogue (or dialog) tags tend to trip some writers. Add to the mix that the US tag standard differs from the UK, and it can add to the confusion. CORRECT: “I don’t like spinach,” she said. CORRECT: She said, “I don’t like spinach.” INCORRECT: “I don’t like spinach.” she said. INCORRECT: “I don’t like spinach.” … Read More
Writing How-To: Random writing.
Sometimes our creativity…hits a wall. Whether you want to call it writers block or mental constipation or what, sometimes an outside source can jumpstart you. Below are a few fun random word and phrase generators for your perusal. Some pull up real words, some make up new ones. Have fun! Try using them for a … Read More
Writing How-To: A little hashed phrase to go with the word salad…
Anchors away for our next topic! Um, no, not really. “Aweigh” is correct, however. This hint goes well with the word salad post from last week. See, the English language is a hair-rippingly funny beast. The bastardized, red-headed step-child of many different languages, it causes quite a bit of confusion. And that’s just for those … Read More
Writing How-To: He said WHAT?
Continuing the writing how-to series, another frequent issue that crops up, especially in romance/erotica novels — guys speaking unnaturally. “You little minx.” Now, honestly. When have you EVER heard a modern guy call a woman a “little minx?” I’m not talking a period/historical (although in those I think it’s overused too). Or a hellcat, spitfire, … Read More
Writing How-To: Can I get ranch dressing on my word salad?
Continuing the writer how-to series, our next quickie topic: word salad. That’s probably not the best term, because there is a condition called word salad, but for the purposes of this tip it’s the phrase I’ll use. Here’s how you prevent this condition (and yes, I am screaming): DO NOT RELY ON YOUR SPELLCHECK FEATURE! … Read More
Writing How-To: Characters Behaving Badly
(Before I kick off the first in my writing how-to series, I wanted to put out a shameless self-promotion plug for my new book, “Good Will Ghost Hunting: Hell’s Bells,” book 2 in the series. It’s available starting today from Lyrical Press. Woot!) (Edit 11/3/2018: It’s available through Siren-BookStrand. Click here for the Good Will … Read More
How “real” do you like it?
I know, it’s been a while since I’ve written. Been swamped in a good way! And on Monday, July 20th, “Hell’s Bells,” the second book in the Good Will Ghost Hunting series, is coming from Lyrical Press. Today’s question is pitched out to readers and writers alike, because I’m interested in hearing from both sides … Read More