When I close my eyes and envision the perfect writing spot, it’s akin to the most majestic library. Shelves with stacks of books enclosing me with their scent, their very presence pushing me to greatness. Tall windows that bring in just the right amount of light in front of large comfy chairs. A wooden desk…
I judged a few entries this year for the Colorado Gold Literary Awards. I have one takeaway. It’s this: Chill with the punctuation. Too much makes readers tired. Well, makes me tired. It’s also unappealing on the page. It looks cluttered. Our brains are already busy putting your words into images in our heads. Don’t…
Think back to the last time you sat down to write and the words simply wouldn’t come. Maybe it was your mood, or the surrounding circumstances: poor lighting, dreadful coffee shop tunes, or a pet/child/partner demanding attention. Perhaps a prompt left you uninspired, or a looming deadline paralyzed your imagination. Whatever the cause, as writers,…
Which came first, the river or the rocks? In the case of the natural stone stairway which leads from the shore of Surface Creek to our manicured lawn, the river existed first. Think of the flowing river as the context of a written story. Think of the rocks as the story. In my accompanying photo,…
When crafting a novel, it’s easy to focus primarily on the development of the protagonist and the primary characters. But remember, your protagonist does not live in isolation. The true mark of a skilled writer lies in their ability to breathe life into secondary characters as well—and in fact, these are sometimes the characters who…