First, I’d like to wish, wherever you are Edgar Allen Poe, a happy birthday. January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849. A free one-hour editing advice given by author, Tom Bromley via Reedsy, (Reedsy https://reedsy.com), was worth every cent—and more. Tom–author, editor, ghostwriter, creative writing tutor, Reedsy’s Head of Learning, and creator of the 101-day…
Category: Writing strategies
Starting a ‘Writing Habit’ Isn’t Easy
I’ve reached the point of desperation in my efforts to start and maintain a writing schedule. With the new year, I had hoped to begin writing for a few hours during the early morning, like 8:00 am to 10:30 am, before telemarketers, postmen, emails, and neighbors filled my day. In December, I told myself I…
The Plot Thickens (Part 1)
Maybe. Maybe it’s boring. Getting an idea for a story is the straightforward part. Developing that idea into a satisfying plot that keeps the reader turning the pages is where the challenge of novel writing begins. Above at: https://writingcooperative.com/a-beginners-guide-to-structuring-your-novel-don-t-use-a-plot-template-58b4b1ddf848 Most stories “fit” into one of seven plots. (That said, this morning, let’s focus on 6…
Righting the West
Earlier this month, I attended the Association of Writers and Writing Programs annual conference in Seattle. The sheer volume and diversity of program offerings at AWP can be overwhelming and after my newbie experience last year, trying to attend back-to-back panels from 9-5 three days in a row, I opted for a more targeted approach…
Every Story is a Love Story
Valentine’s Day is over, you say. And anyway Rachel, don’t you write horror? I’m not talking about romantic love, the romance genre or even incorporating romantic elements in any genre. Rather, I mean that the impetus for writing anything comes from a desire to express and inspire love. Wait, what? How do stories about hauntings,…