Sometimes, we writers enter our respective, fictional worlds and don’t look back. Some would even say we cannot. Or is that can not? Wait, or is that can’t? When did something so simple become so complicated? I learned the proper way to write that you couldn’t do something was with the term “can not” (two … More The Changing Language of ‘Not’
The other day, a fellow writer posted a question over on SFFWorld.com about chapters. Just what makes up a chapter? What does one put in them? When does one know a chapter begins and ends? How many words go into a chapter? The poster’s questions got me thinking, so here we are. 🙂 I’m not a … More Chapters
Okay, I know the title of the post will get all sorts of (ahem) different sorts of folks trolling my blog, but the euphemism fits the topic of today’s post – believe it or not. As some of you may know, one of my goals this year was to self-publish a short story. At the … More Getting caught with your pants down
During one of my writing coach (WC) sessions, my WC says, “This is all crap. You have the bones, but nothing else. But DON’T PANIC. This must be part of your process.” Okay, she didn’t say the ‘crap’ part, but the comment floored me nonetheless. Process? I don’t have a (friggin’) process. I’m floundering here, … More What’s your process?
If you intend to self-publish, you need editors. Note, I said editors with an ‘s’. When I started writing, I knew very little of the publishing world, but coming from an educated background, I was aware of these creatures called ‘editor’. I mean, we all know newspapers have editors. Journals have editors. Magazines have editors. … More Why you need editors
Last year (that sounds so long ago, doesn’t it?), I submitted my first novel, Devil’s Blood, to Critters (an online writer critique group). I got two readers. That sounds dismal, I know, and it probably is, but I got back two great critiques by J.M. Odell and Ashleigh Richie (thank you, two, again!). And to … More Editing Blues
Write Just, Just Write
I know that I love to write. I like to record the daydreams that assault me every day, every waking moment. It makes me happy. But, like most writers (right?), I hate to revise. For me, revising is like having your teeth cleaned while getting an enema. It is just not pleasant. But, we all … More The bane of my life
If you have been following my blog for a while, you may have noticed that I am reviewing the Writer’s Digest 25 Ways to Improve Your Writing in 30 Minutes a Day article. In an effort to improve my writing, I thought it would be a good idea to explore the 25 tips in a blog post for each. … More Standing apart
I really do try to keep typos from making an appearance in my writing. I know it doesn’t seem like I proof my posts, but despite the overwhelming damning evidence, I do. Why is it that I can type the word beacon, when I know I meant to say beckon? In my head, I hear the word beckon, but … More Bloody Typos
N. E. White 