I see, I listen, I think. Therefore, I write.
Details convey character. They carry a lot of weight in fiction. “Often, a well-chosen detail can tell us more about a character — his social and economic status, his hopes and dreams, his vision of himself—than a long explanatory passage.” … Continued
I nearly zapped a historical romance out of my iPad in exasperation, while reading it one evening. Not because it was badly written. Nor was it boring. Rather, it annoyed me that for the umpteenth time, the author describes her … Continued
Do you think of writing as art? Or a task with a set of rules you must follow? Many writers believe both are true and allow both approaches to guide their writing. Both have their uses but a bias for … Continued
Words. We’re inundated with them. From friends and loved ones. From strangers. From the constant assault of media. And from words that churn around in our heads—as they do a lot in writers. Or in some people afflicted with certain … Continued
Come times when you need to toot your own horn. Why not? Sometimes no one else can do it better. Like when you’re getting all these sweet words for Welcome Reluctant Stranger on Amazon reviews and you feel you must … Continued
I recently read a couple of articles on book reviews, written by an erudite man with impeccable credentials. In an online magazine called The Arts Fuse, he continues the lament of the literati on the growing tyranny of the common … Continued
Why write fiction? Writing is unrewarding. Not an item you would often find in a bucket list (things you hope to do in your life)—if we mean writing a novel, an essay, or a short story. But it probably makes … Continued
Can writing heal what ails you? Many studies show you can write to save your life. I started writing my thoughts and feelings in a little notebook when I was a kid. I think it was my way of coping … Continued
Ah, how careless we can be with our words! I don’t mean sloppy grammar or style that relies on clichés. I’m talking about careless word choice, particularly when words are chosen to serve a style of writing. Someone sent me … Continued