This topic was suggested by Patricia Stolty, who recently stepped down as our blog administrator after years of hard work and dedication. She will be missed, but is moving on to focus on her own writing, so good luck Pat! One of the challenges writers face, especially those just starting to focus on their writing…
Tag: presence of malice
Enthusiasm Refill
The festive holiday season fills us with excitement, hope, cheer, enthusiasm, optimism. For several months we have something to look forward to. For many of us it is the excitement to see family and friends we haven’t seen is a long time, for others it’s seeing what Père Noël left for us under the Christmas…
“The Silver Moment”
It’s a term I made up to describe a twist in fiction that can make the “black moment” more shocking to a reader. The black moment is a part of the basic structure of fiction that has been knocking around for centuries. The inciting incident. The mounting tension. Complications. Climax. The black moment. Denouement. There…
TO SERIALIZE OR NOT TO SERIALIZE
SERIALIZE (sîr′ē-ə-līz′) verb 1. to transform cookies, donuts, waffles, french toast, crunch berries, etc. into miniature candy-like form to be dredged in milk and consumed for breakfast. 2. to broadcast or publish (something, such as a story) in separate parts over a period of time. No sooner was my latest thriller Presence of Malice released…
Things I Hate to Admit to Myself
There’s nothing that turns me off of a keynote speech at any gathering of writers – be it conferences, workshops, retreats, whatever – more than when the speaker starts out by telling you how impossible it is for you to become a successful writer. When they say that less than 1% of all books submitted…