“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, […]
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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 »Bitter Truth: It’s best to play nice
Play Nice…. Because if you don’t, the sad truth is that it will come back to bite you. I’m no Miss Manners, nor a saint, never will be, never aspire to be. I’m opinionated, I interrupt, I procrastinate, and I complain too much. This is just a small sample of my maladies. So we can […]
Read the rest of this entry »Writing Advice from Joss Whedon
Joss Whedon I wasn’t sure how to start this, so I did anyway. I’ve faced plenty of writer’s block in my time, though maybe less than some. I’ll lay out whatever rules for dealing with it that come to me. I think I’ve already laid out the first. Control your environment. No one comes or […]
Read the rest of this entry »Quick take: Conflict = Test
While conflict is the basis for fiction, a plot builds by adding on complications, surprises, and developments that add more tension and forward motion. Plots are not drawn as a straight line; instead there are zigzags, dead ends, sidetracks and crooked paths. Each of these elements adds more obstacles, more decisions to be made, paths […]
Read the rest of this entry »From Idea to Story workshop on May 3
In case you missed it, I have a fabulous, practical, get-it-done workshop coming up. We’re going to brainstorm, problem solve a lot. Hate to use buzz words, but the truth is, authors who attended this workshop have gone on to publish their books. And it’s in Manzanita, Oregon. If you’ve never spent time in lovely […]
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