ORNAMENTS AND CHARACTERS Dismantling my Christmas tree is like a trip down memory lane. First I’ll tell you of some of my memories, then I will show you how it can help when you’re creating your fictional characters. PINE CONES. I love these, and use them on the tree and in my wreaths. I collected…
Category: Blog
Writing Romance: Getting to Midpoint
Hello Campers! Are we back from holiday vacation yet? No, are we REALLY back from holiday vacation? Big confession – I forgot my deadline last week for this column. Rude awakening, that. Many thanks to Rachel for not beating me! Now I’m REALLY back. Remember at the beginning of this series, we talked about the…
You Can’t Win
Starting out a new year always seems like “Woo! A fresh beginning! A chance to start over!” with the implication that “This time, I’ll do it right!” Yeah. I’ve got a couple of nits to pick with that. First, the same applies to every morning. I prefer to look at each new day as a…
A Writer’s Wishlist
Dear Santa, I know we writers can be coy about what gifts we want. And I’m sure you’re tired of getting us the same things year after year (books, and the occasional desk accessory). So, I’m just gonna say what we’re all thinking and tell you what I really want for Christmas this year. Representation…
The Gifts of Writing
Everything in the city was clammy, doorknobs and train handrails slick with other people’s sweat, the air heavy with the smell of yesterday’s lunch. If that isn’t enough from page one of Sara Novic’s debut novel, Girl at War, perhaps sentences from page two will prick your writer self: We took cold showers and walked…