Recently I started a book and got about half-way through the first chapter and put the book down #amreading Click To Tweet The main character was already annoying me. Her internal dialogue was selfish and immature. Her reactions pointless. I couldn’t relate to her at all. Granted, we writers want to create characters who grow […]
7 Tips for Writing Great Dialogue
I’ve blogged on dialogue before, but because dialogue is so important to good fiction-writing, I decided to revisit the topic. Before we look at the seven tips, let’s talk about what great dialogue is and what it isn’t #amwriting Click To Tweet First, great dialogue flows seamlessly. If the reader has to go back to […]
Dogs Teach Writers How to Reveal Emotions
Recently I read a short article discussing the way dogs read people #amwriting Click To Tweet They seem to understand their owners emotions. According to the research dogs and humans are the only species able to do this. I know my dog can read my emotions. I’ve known that for a long time. I also […]
Q&A with Cozy Mystery Writer Nikki Haverstock
I’m excited to welcome Nikki Haverstock to my blog today @ranchernikki Click To Tweet Nikki is a fascinating person. Not only is she a skilled archer but she is also a skilled mystery writer who spends a good bit of her time cattle ranching. How’s that for unusual? When you read a Nikki Haverstock mystery, […]
What do Expressive Readers Like to Read?
This is the last personality type that the BEST survey looks at. We’ve already explored what Bold, Technical and Sympathetic reading styles in previous posts. Also, if you haven’t taken the quiz to learn what kind of reader you are, give it a go. It won’t take but a few minutes. So, what do expressive […]
Call to the Wild–Flash Fiction
If you haven’t read the e-Murderer, maybe you’d like to meet Jenna and Quentin #amreading Click To Tweet In this story, they embark on a camping trip. “C’mon, Jenna. It’s just for a bloody weekend.” Trying to dissuade Quentin from doing anything was like trying to change myself into a frog. “Why won’t Alan go […]
What Kinds of Blogs Do you Read?
I’m curious. That’s the fault of most writers, curiosity… One thing that I’m curious about is what blogs do you read? Do you read a regular blog? I tend to read the same blogs. When I find one I like, I read it frequently. I don’t always comment, but I do read the content. What […]
My #BookReview Raven Black by Ann Cleeves 5 Stars
Isn’t it wonderful to find a new series that you really like? #amreading #mystery Click To Tweet I did that when I read the first book in the Shetland Island Quartet by Ann Cleeves. The story is well-done in many ways. It is told from several points of view with a chapter break delineating each. […]
What do Sympathetic Readers Like to Read?
Looking at particular communication styles, we can determine what people like to read #amreading Click To Tweet Indeed reading is a subtle form of communication. Our books talk to us in all kinds of ways. They teach, they entertain, they create tension, they challenge. For the Sympathetic reader they must also satisfy #amreading Click To […]
Do Readers Make Good Writers?
I always thought that because I loved to read and read a lot, I knew what good writing was. And, I suppose I assumed that reading taught me about writing. In some ways, it does. Reading puts good language into our subconscious. It’s like listening to and reading a new language. But does the process […]
