“Write what you know.” That was Mrs. Frances Toepfer’s advice on the first day of English Composition class at Abraham Lincoln High School in southwest Denver more years ago than I wish to acknowledge. She then raised her glasses from the chain around her neck and studied us for a moment, expecting, I suppose, questions….
Tag: writing
Building Plot Complexity
For most readers, a satisfying plot is a fairly complex one. A single, relatively linear plot can be mildly entertaining, but usually not very memorable or satisfying. A story with not only twists and turns, but with sidetracks and subplots that all seem to somehow tie in, even loosely, give readers a much richer, deeper…
Rocky Mountain Writer #167
Bernadette Marie – Independent Writer of the Year Finalist For the third year in a row, Bernadette Marie is one of three finalists for the Independent Writer of the Year. With some 35 books in print and many more in the pipeline, Bernadette Marie is the definition of prolific. She also runs a publishing company…
Plotting Whiplash
I remember reading Stephen R. Donaldson’s Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever as a teen and feeling frustrated. At the time, I didn’t have the experience to define the source of that frustration, but later in life I was able to put my finger on it. I was reading good-sized books about epic fantasy adventures,…
Rocky Mountain Writer #161
James Persichetti & Lost Hat Editorial This week we interviewed editor, writer, and all-around interesting guy James Persichetti. We discuss his recent career move from managing foreign rights at a literary agency; the difference between all the many types of editing; and the best tactics for making your novel stand out to agents, editors, and readers. James Persichetti…