Truth be told, I’m not an easy man #amreading #bookreview Click To Tweet This was the first line of Richard Russo’s novel, Straight Man. And, truth be told, this is not an easy book. As first lines go, that one ranks up there with the best. It captures the essence of this book. Indeed William Henry Devereaux, […]
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 […]
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. […]
Homer & Langley: A Novel My #Review
I knew going into EL Doctorow’s book Homer & Langley: A Novel that the ending would be sad. Anyone reading it knows that the story is a fictional telling of the lives of two brothers who were found dead in their New York City apartment. The brothers were major hoarders. It took weeks to dig […]
Tips for Starting a New Novel
I recently started a new novel. I began with a germ of an idea and it has grown and emerged since. Because we all write in different ways, I thought I’d share some of my tips for starting a new novel and ask my writer friends to add a few of theirs. Working on a […]
Tips on How Not to Let Others Squelch Your Creativity
Recently I heard someone say, “I tried to write a novel, but when my wife read it, she said…” Usually a negative comment from a loved one or a friend, will squelch our creativity in an instant #amwriting #creativity Click To Tweet Quicker than my foot will squelch a bug. As artists, whether literary artists […]
Tips Josephine Tey Teaches #Mystery Writers
Josephine Tey was a brilliant mystery writer #amwriting #writingtips #mystery Click To Tweet She wrote in the 1930’s and 1950’s. Her books followed no set formula, and I’d say she might have been one of the first pantser writers. Those outliners who put us pantsers down might take a long look at a writer like […]
Florida Writer’s Association Royal Palm Literary Awards–Clock Strikes is a Winner!
About 500 writers convened outside of Orlando Florida to celebrate the Florida Writer’s Conference last Thursday through Sunday. Workshops for new and seasoned writers of novels, screenplays, short fiction, poetry and much more provided needed advice and encouragement. This conference celebrated its fourteenth year and attracted writers from Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Alabama, and more. During […]
Getting Reviews is Like Pulling Teeth
Okay, so I write a review for nearly every book I read #amreading #bookreview Click To Tweet I do it because… well, why not? I enjoying having the opportunity to share my opinions about what I’ve read. Readers may or may not agree with me, but at least I’ve had my say. Think back years […]
Why Writers Keep Writing
I’ve often wondered what keeps writers writing. As a reader, I’m grateful that people out there in the world persist in this rather unrewarding activity. I say unrewarding only in the sense of traditional rewards, e.g., money, fame. Most of what writers get instead is criticism or armchair hindsight. So why do writer’s write? I […]
