siri The title of this post says it all. It's about Siri. You know who I mean. Siri, the wonderful, intelligent, talky voice on my iphone. She's supposed to keep me out of trouble, provide relevant information when I need it, and get me where I want to go without incident. She's fairly good at …
Question and answer: How can I find out which genre of fiction writing is best for me?
Try this: Read, read, read whatever you enjoy reading. This tells you what you like to read if someone else writes it and it’s a pretty good guess that you’d like to read it if you wrote it. Take those stories you read and change them into the story you’d write if you’d been the …
Too much of a pretty thing.
When we moved to northern Minnesota, I was fascinated by the deer we'd see in the close forest. They are so lovely, so graceful, and so wonderful to watch. Especially the fawns in the spring. They are awkward, spotted, fascinating infants. So we put out deer feed and that brought in even more deer, more …
Want cards? Want books?
Since I stopped publishing my newsletter I've been trying to think how to continue the one thing that I really liked about it. The giveaways. I gave away one free e-book a month or a hard copy if the recipient didn't like e-books. I also gave away a half-dozen hand-made greeting cards. Sometimes birthday cards, …
Question and answer: How do authors find time to write after they have children?
How can authors find time to write after they have children? It’s possible with a lot of thought and preparation. I didn’t start writing until my kids were in high school, so it was easier for me. But when my son moved back home with his toddler I ended up caring for my grandson so …
Continue reading Question and answer: How do authors find time to write after they have children?
Pies and other good things
The church I attend serves a community Thanksgiving meal to hundreds of people. And we deliver meals to those who can't make it in person. This requires huge effort on the part of the congregation. My part this Thanksgiving was pies. I promised two pies. Then, when I heard they might run short, I increased …
Working at home
Since I work at home it doesn't matter what it's like outside but when the blue sky disappears and the sun can't be found, I look out the window and am tempted to be a bit depressed. At such times I have a cup of tea. While I'm sipping, I remember the almost-blizzard I was …
Question and answer: Is it normal to write in non-chronological order?
Is non-chronological order writing normal? It may or may not be ‘normal’ but it’s done a lot. I personally don’t care for it, but I’m okay with it if that’s the way the writer chooses to tell his/her story because if I don’t like it, I can simply change the order in which I read …
Continue reading Question and answer: Is it normal to write in non-chronological order?
Non-human characters
Some of the best characters in stories aren't human or even alive. One of the most important characters in Earnest Hemmingway's The Old Man And The Sea was the ocean itself in all its moods and glory and simply its overwhelming presence. I think I understand how he felt writing about the sea because I …
Turkeys or change of season?
When I glanced out the window, I saw a flock of twelve wild turkeys at the edge of the yard. Quick as a wink, I grabbed my cell phone and took a picture. Not a good picture because they were so far away. But a picture. When I checked out the picture, I wasn't sure …
