How do you recognise good writing? It’s clean, well thought out, and well edited. Now, great writing. That’s another story. Great writing lives and breathes. It grabs you by the neck and drags you down the page. But how can you make a piece of writing truly stand out? The important thing to remember is…
Read more
Behind Dagmar, every church bell in the capital began to toll. “Uncle!” She turned and ran down the hill. Her bodyguard caught up, grabbing her wrist. “My Lady, there’s nothing you can do. The king is gone.” She clenched her fist. “One day, I’ll kill the bastard who did this.” Wow. It’s been…
Read more
I downloaded this book off NetGalley for review purposes. But why did I pick this book out of everything I found on there? That’s fairly simple. My friend R. Jean Bell clued me in to its existence. When I read the blurb, I almost squealed with joy. Books like this need to exist and they…
Read more
This week, it’s not a forgotten classic that I read. Not really. It’s a book many people know and love. But this is one I sincerely hope we’ll share with the next generations. Only recently, I read an article with writing tips from Ernest Hemingway. Tip number five was about writer’s block. >All you have…
Read more
So, a while back I decided that I’d had enough of blogging for a readership of five people. I was going to get my stories out there, where people would read them–people who weren’t my friends–even if it killed me. So I started submitting poems and stories to magazines. And what did I get? Rejections.…
Read more
She had to start looking after herself again. Too-thin hand resting on her still-flat belly, Allie smiled. Her memories of Joe wouldn’t fade completely. A part of him would live on after all. This is my entry for my friend Jayna’s weekly 50-word story prompt. I haven’t felt up to writing for a…
Read more
Imagine buying a kitchen cupboard. Shiny, new, and just the style you love. So you whip out your wallet and buy the thing. Upon delivery, you discover that the doors won’t open properly. The hinges squeal like a stuck pig at the slightest hint of movement. No matter how practical it is on the inside,…
Read more
Forgotten Pearls. Yes. It’s a new thing. My friend Anike and I were talking about it a few weeks ago. I’ve been writing book reviews on contemporary books. But what about the gems that were mined and polished yesterday? She and I (and hopefully others) will share episodes of this series of special book reviews,…
Read more
Since almost burning myself out by trying to make the most of every free minute by writing, I decided to supplement my brain’s diet with a steady supply of reading material. It’s paid off, to say the least. I’m finally starting to feel like me again. The me I become when I get to use…
Read more
A few weeks ago, I treated myself to some books on the art and craft of writing. Among them was Stein on Writing by Sol Stein. Sol Stein wrote thirteen books, and was publisher and editor-in-chief of Stein and Day publishers for twenty seven years. The book is not what you’d call an easy read.…
Read more
