THE GENE THAT CAUSES BLACK FUR MIGHT MAKE THESE FELINES RESISTANT TO DISEASE. The mutation that causes a cat’s fur to be black is in the same genetic family as genes known to give humans resistance to diseases like HIV. So perhaps their color has less to do with camouflage than disease resistance. Scientists hope… Continue reading Another interesting factoid about black cats. (They are healthy.)
Category: Writing Fiction
Why sailors like cats. (And why I like them, too.)
Cats are sailors' best friends. Have been for hundreds of years. Not only were cats welcome aboard British vessels to hunt mice, but sailors generally thought a black cat in particular would bring good luck and ensure a safe return home. A few of these kitties have been enshrined in maritime history. Tiddles traveled more than… Continue reading Why sailors like cats. (And why I like them, too.)
Black cat facts I bet you didn’t know.
IN SOME CULTURES, BLACK CATS ARE GOOD LUCK. In Japan, if you are a single lady, owning a black cat is said to increase your number of suitors. If one crosses your path from left to right in Germany, good things will happen. So maybe having a black cat as a major character in… Continue reading Black cat facts I bet you didn’t know.
Black Cats. Gotta love ’em.
There's a lot to love about these black, fur-balls as evidenced by holidays in their honor. What, you say? Holidays just for a specific color cat? Yep. The ASPCA celebrates Black Cat Appreciation Day annually on August 17. In England, October 27 is National Black Cat Day. I mention these because my latest clean small-town… Continue reading Black Cats. Gotta love ’em.
As a writer, do you sometimes need reassurance that people care about your writing?
The answer is ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ Because: Writers, like all creative types, appreciate reassurance that what they are doing resonates with others. (Who doesn’t?” At the same time, most writers prefer doing their own thing regardless of whether other people like it or not. (Again, who doesn’t?) I suspect that the difference between the two… Continue reading As a writer, do you sometimes need reassurance that people care about your writing?
While writing in third person, what are some of the ways you can refer to the main character other than their name or ‘he’ or ‘she?’
One of the easiest ways accomplishes more than just indicating which character is speaking or doing something. It’s called a ‘dialogue tag’ and it simply means that you mix together the description of the scene with the actions/speeches of the character you wish to pinpoint. Describe where they are or what they are doing, whichever… Continue reading While writing in third person, what are some of the ways you can refer to the main character other than their name or ‘he’ or ‘she?’
I’m trying to write a plot line for a book but I keep on overthinking it and eventually hating them. How do I see it through to the end?
Plotting is a science and the more you do it the better your plots will be. So hang in there. But — there are ways to do it that make the whole thing easier. This is only one way but it’s the way I use: 1. Describe your main character in 2 to 4 sentences.… Continue reading I’m trying to write a plot line for a book but I keep on overthinking it and eventually hating them. How do I see it through to the end?
A VERY BLACK CAT
A Very Black Cat! It's done, sent to the publishers, and is now on Amazon! I'm talking about my latest novel, of course, A Very Black Cat, and you can see the black cat on the fence if you look between the hero and heroine on the book cover. (Nice cover, Cynthia! Thanks!) Here's… Continue reading A VERY BLACK CAT
Should I plan the novel or just start writing?
Depends ——- There are two kinds of writers of novels: ‘Pantsers’ write by the seat of their pants. They just sit down and start writing. They normally end up doing a whole lot of revision and rewriting and, occasionally, even changing the thrust of the story, but they say this method allows their mind free… Continue reading Should I plan the novel or just start writing?
Do authors hijack other’s ideas due to their better narrative?
This is an interesting question because of the way it’s worded. Authors hijack each other’s ideas all the time. Just as artists hijack each other’s ideas all the time and all creative types hijack everyone else’s ideas all the time. The thing is, they hijack the IDEAS but they don’t hijack the way the… Continue reading Do authors hijack other’s ideas due to their better narrative?
