Category Archives: WRITING

It seems that once upon a time I thought this was so important: to try on your main character, to act and think as he would.  There’s no doubt that it does help in getting into the story rather than … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Just got through a second look at a friend’s short story and while I know this particular writer is one of the best, I was less than pleased.  For one thing, it was 20k words long.  For another, it could … Continue reading → Continue reading →

In a few of the recent postings on writing, a friend named Josh has voiced his own concerns about how to go about writing a short story.  I’ve been thinking about this for days, and I can’t really come up … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I get a lot of my short story ideas–when they start out as an idea, rather than the more usual opening lines–while driving.  I had two great ones this morning.  One is forgotten, because I forgot to write it down … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Meaning:  Write/Rewrite I do enjoy rewriting.  I’m having fun right now manipulating a conversation between a married couple during a harrowing ride in a snowstorm.  They’re headed up to a cabin for a weekend.  They’re talking but not listening.  They’re … Continue reading → Continue reading →

One of the neatest things about weblogging is that you can piss and moan, whine and decry your fate as an artist, and you’ll get the kick in the ass you may need to get back on track.  (Thanks Josh, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

It’s pretty obvious that I’m in a down cycle on my own writing lately, and while I know I won’t give it up entirely, it’s at the point in the cycle where it can’t be given the priority any more. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Trying on, these past few weeks, this new label, this clothing that is color-coded, as in Atwood’s Handmaid’s Tale.  I’m not a writer. It chafes, like recital costumes of tulle that I remember from my early school years.  It took … Continue reading → Continue reading →

In yesterday’s post I said: Then this evening saw a hawk swoop through the yard, dinner clutched dark and lifeless in his talons. Rethinking that this morning (yes, editing is in my genes; I’m a prime example of coulda-woulda-shoulda), a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Well no, they haven’t read the stories yet, but they did respond…with a submissions request of their own to subscribe to their lit journal. I suppose that it’s only good business sense (although they didn’t bother to look up whether … Continue reading → Continue reading →