I’ll be speaking at the monthly meeting of the Willamette Writers on Tuesday, June 3. Doors open at 6:30 and I’ll start yakking around 7:00. Free to members, $5 for nonmembers. My topic: Risky Business or how to create compelling, larger-than-life surrogate warriors, bad ass anti-heroes, believable antagonists, and quirky, memorable cast members for your […]
Read the rest of this entry »Archive for May, 2014
Quick Take: Climax = Convergence
The climax in fiction is the mountain top, the battle, the declaration of love—where the story has been heading all along, when the protagonist’s goal is achieved or denied, and the future is established. The major problem in the story is resolved and the scene contains intense emotions. It’s also the final turning point and […]
Read the rest of this entry »A Room with a View or Not?
I’m inspired by the solace of nature, particularly the Pacific or a dense forest, sun dappling golden on the branches. Then again the lullaby burbling of a creek or river is my ideal soundtrack as I write. Annie Dillard in The Writing Life advises: “Appealing workplaces are to be avoided. One wants a room with […]
Read the rest of this entry »On beginning
“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, […]
Read the rest of this entry »Thought for the day:
One of the greatest things drama can do, at its best, is to redefine the words we use every day such as love, home, family, loyalty and envy. Tragedy need not be a downer. ~ Ben Kingsley
Read the rest of this entry »Reminder: Deadline to register for Summer in Words lodging is May 19
Jay and I just spent a weekend at the Hallmark Inn at Cannon Beach. We chose the Hallmark for the weekend and as the location for the Summer in Word conference because it offers beautiful, comfortable rooms overlooking Haystack Rock and the ever-changing Pacific. On Friday night we watched the sun drift downward in ever-changing […]
Read the rest of this entry »Annie Dillard: The Death of a Moth
I cannot mention often enough how noticing, or awareness is a writer’s obligation. A necessary ingredient to our days. A tool that deepens and changes the way we walk in the world. Here’s an example that proves this from Annie Dillard. “One night a moth flew into the candle, was caught, burnt dry, and held. […]
Read the rest of this entry »Quick Take: What do your characters notice?
I’m working on a two-part column about voice in fiction. I’m hoping to help writers master voice and get closer to their characters. Which got me thinking–what people notice tells us a lot about them. When my father visits the Northwest from the upper Midwest he notices that there are a lot of SUVs and […]
Read the rest of this entry »
