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Still reading... sort of

So, I have read more books since I posted last — I just didn’t have the mental energy to say anything about it. (Sorry.) Here’s a recap of what’s happened since my last report.

I made some progress on the “bought but never read” list. I started with two Fae books... (Continue reading)

Five and two

I actually finished my second batch of five books in mid-August, but put off writing the blog post. I read mostly shorter works again — only one full-length novel, while the rest were novellas of various lengths.

Sisters of the Vast Black was the longest novella, and it surprised me —... (Continue reading)

Five for one

For the first few months of Covid lockdown, I struggled with reading. Sometimes I could manage it, and sometimes I couldn’t. I’d pick up old favorites, read a few chapters, then pick up something else. I even had trouble with The Network Effect, which I’d pre-ordered in... (Continue reading)

Reading revival

I’ve always struggled to be creative when I’m depressed. I’ve hardly done any writing for several years now; that’s probably obvious from the long silence here. But a few years ago — probably around the time that I was diagnosed with low iron levels — I noticed I was having... (Continue reading)

Found words

Spotted this scrap of poetry on Twitter today, and it’s perfect and I don’t want to lose it.

you’re trembling, but he reaches over and
he touches you, like a prayer for which no words exist,

— Richard Siken bot (@sikenpoems) July 25, 2017

The well is dry

A few months ago, Dad asked me if I was still writing. I think he was trying to distract me from the whole world-on-fire situation, but it didn’t work: I immediately started crying. (I’ve been more than a little depressed, obviously.) I have not been writing. At all. The only... (Continue reading)

The doorstopper

This week, I was looking at NPR’s list of Top 100 Science-Fiction & Fantasy Books, and it reminded me that I still haven’t read The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. It was on my wish list for at least two years, and I finally bought a copy... (Continue reading)

Reader's block

I haven’t managed to do much reading this year, mainly because I’ve had a very hard time finding books (new or old) that excite and satisfy me. I re-read an old favorite (Taltos, by Steven Brust) and one of last year’s acquisitions (The Paper Magician, by Charlie Holmberg), and while... (Continue reading)

Shakespeare meets modern music

Recently, I discovered a creative site that I absolutely adore, and I love it so much that I wanted to share it here. It’s called Pop Sonnets, and the creator takes lyrics from modern songs and writes a new version of them, Shakespearean-style. It’s nothing short of amazing;... (Continue reading)

Writing Exercise: Resolutions

2015 is rapidly approaching, which means it’s time to start making New Year’s Resolutions. But what resolutions would your characters make? Most people pick the standard things like losing weight and exercising more, but dig deeper: if your characters could change something about themselves, what would they alter? Knowing what... (Continue reading)

Short stories: exit, pursued by a bear

I’m done.

While the “read a story a day” experiment was interesting, I’m ready to draw it to a close. I think I’ve read more stories in the past three weeks than I’d read in the past year — and while I’m pleased with that accomplishment, I have to be honest: a... (Continue reading)

New submissions record!

I sent out another flash fiction story this morning (fingers crossed!) and I realized I have quite a few stories out at different markets. I was logging my latest submission into the Grinder (it’s vital to have a tool for keeping track of these things) and saw that I currently have... (Continue reading)

Stories galore (a story a day, week two)

Another week, another batch of short stories and flash fiction! I read more than one story several days, since they were either flash pieces or simply shorter than average.

I know I should probably comment on the stories or review them in some fashion, but, well, I don’t want to hurt... (Continue reading)

A story a day, week one

For the past week, I’ve read one story every day. (I’ve always favored novels over short stories, so this trend is kind of a Big Deal for me.)

I didn’t plan to do it, at least not at first; I’d just finished reading a novel and wasn’t sure what I wanted... (Continue reading)

Sending out the stories

Fellow writer Amanda C. Davis seems to be my main motivator for submitting stories this year. She’s great about sharing submission opportunities in her Twitter feed, and she mentioned one a couple of weeks ago that appealed to me, mainly because it was flash fiction (something I have a good... (Continue reading)

Stalled

So, the novel is once again on hiatus. (Sigh.) I did some great work at the retreat last month, despite arriving there exhausted and full of self-doubt, pretty much hating my own writing. But by mid-week I’d managed to get past that feeling, and in three days, I edited the next... (Continue reading)

Sharing words

My friend Janice Fuller (a talented poet and playwright) has made a practice of asking people to write down words for her. She saves them and then, when she wants to be inspired, she draws a few words from her stash and thinks about the words themselves and the donors who... (Continue reading)

Schrödinger's submission

Having stories sitting in virtual slush piles can be frustrating; in fact, it can drive you crazy if you let it. Waiting to hear back from editors can stretch on for what seems like forever. And while you wait, your manuscript is like Schrödinger’s Cat. Is it alive? Is it dead?... (Continue reading)

Buy, Borrow, Bin: the Terry Pratchett edition

I haven’t done the Buy, Borrow, Bin game in a while, and I decided to make this one a themed episode for an added challenge. So I’m selecting three random novels by Terry Pratchett, one of my favorite authors. Let’s see which books are our contestants this time, and which... (Continue reading)

Wrong character, wrong ending

I wrote a new story last month, and in the process, I committed a basic mistake, one I’d first identified in college (many, many moons ago). I kept trying to write the final key scene, but it just wasn’t working; I tried three times, and each time, the tone was wrong,... (Continue reading)

Gorgeous photo inspiration

I saw the photo below (from the upcoming Tom Hiddleston movie Crimson Peak) on Tumblr earlier this week.

I can’t express how much this image makes me want to write a gothic Victorian romance.

If you’re interested, there’s the original post, which has the full-size photo plus some additional... (Continue reading)

It's treats!

The Universe sent me some treats a couple of weeks ago — right before I got sick, actually, which is why I’m only just posting about it. First, Dad got me a really cute case for my Kindle (the Christmas gift to myself that was sadly still caseless); it’s a... (Continue reading)

Writing Exercise: Mirror, Mirror

There’s an old technique sometimes seen in fiction where a character looks into a mirror in order to describe his or her appearance to the reader. While this practice isn’t one I’d recommend, I do think mirrors can be used in more interesting ways.

When we look into a mirror, what... (Continue reading)

Small steps

Well, I doubled my submissions for March, sending out two flash pieces — the one that was rejected by Daily Science Fiction in February, plus a newly revised story I’d never tried to publish. I spent some time in February looking through old work and discovered a few gems that... (Continue reading)

An interview with author Jonathan Wood

And now, for something completely different: a chat with Jonathan Wood, author of No Hero — the book Barnes and Noble called one of the best paranormal fantasy novels of the last decade…

Cheryl: You have three books in the pipeline right now: No Hero (in stores next week),... (Continue reading)

Off the rails

I guess I jinxed myself with my earlier post, because all my progress has ground to a halt… stupid health issues have left me tired and discouraged. I think about my stories, but can’t quite bring myself to work on them.

I’m currently re-reading the Harry Potter books in an effort... (Continue reading)

Buy, Borrow or Bin, Round 2

It’s time for another round of buy, borrow or bin! If you missed the first post, I pick three books at random from my Goodreads collection and relegate one to each category: I’d buy it; I’d only borrow it; or I’d chuck... (Continue reading)

On a roll

It’s been a very long time since I tried to get anything published. I had a few stories printed in obscure places years ago, but after Hurricane Katrina, I just stopped sending things out. It just didn’t seem important anymore.

Last summer, I wrote and sent out one story, a flash... (Continue reading)

Buy, Borrow or Ban

Yesterday, I was reading a fun interview with writer friend Amanda C. Davis and I discovered a delightful game I couldn’t wait to try. It’s a variation of the “Kiss/Marry/Kill” game (to use the polite name), where you rate people you might find attractive. The rules... (Continue reading)

New year, old prompts

So, I’m weighing a decision at this point: do I continue creating and sharing a weekly writing prompt?

On New Year’s Day, I had pretty much decided to discontinue it, at least as a weekly feature. I feel like I want to do more than that with this space; I’d like... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Miracle on your street

It’s almost Christmas — and in the spirit of the season, this week I invite you to write about a little (or big) miracle. Write about a happy coincidence or fortunate accident. Write about a character extending a hand to help another and having that gesture come back to enrich... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: MacGyver it

“But me and Cinderella, we put it all together
We can drive it home with one headlight.”
One Headlight, The Wallflowers

In fiction writing, it’s tempting to provide our characters with whatever tool they need at a given moment. Do they need a hammer, an ice scraper, a clothespin, a lint... (Continue reading)

The Unstrung Harp: a great gift for writers

If you’re looking for a gift for another writer in your life (or just want a little treat for yourself), consider getting a copy of The Unstrung Harp by Edward Gorey. I’ve had a copy for years and it’s an utter delight. Writers will be sure to recognize and enjoy... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Contact

“Seasons change with the scenery
Weaving time in a tapestry
Won’t you stop and remember me?”
Hazy Shade of Winter (as recorded by The Bangles)

Recently, I’ve been thinking (again) about a friend I lost many years ago. I’d like to contact her, but I haven’t because I’m afraid of getting... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Perspective

Once again, it’s Black Friday, when shopping takes over the country and normal people go berserk for bargains. (Sigh.) Unfortunately, people can get caught up in the moment, completely lose perspective and behave in ways they normally wouldn’t. This week, write a scene or story where someone gets too focused... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: What's in a Name (Redux)

Recently, Twitter friend and author Jonathan Wood shared a blog post about the difficulty of naming characters and places. I sympathize, since I’m often frustrated when trying to find the right name.

But Jonathan observed that certain names are ripe with possibilities, evoking ideas for characters, places and situations.... (Continue reading)

Writing Exercise: Middle of the Road

Some people (and characters) are afraid to take sides: they may not like confrontation, or they may want to keep their options open and hedge their bets rather than be caught on the losing team. (An excellent example is Corporal Nobby Nobbs in Terry Pratchett’s war satire Jingo; during a... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: At What Cost?

Some time ago, Twitter buddy and fellow writer Amanda Davis shared a fortune add-on started by author Katie Alender: at the end of your fortune, you add the words “But at what cost?” So often, people (and characters) desperately want something, but they don’t consider the cost of achieving that... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: The Frozen Crown

This week, we’re going to do something totally different: I’m inviting you to join in writing an interactive story.

Yesterday, author Cat Rambo tweeted about a fun site called An Ancient Tome; the site turns writing into a game by facilitating interactive stories. You can start a... (Continue reading)

Writing Exercise: Alterations

What would your characters change if they could alter history? It’s an interesting question (inspired by the card game Chrononauts rather than Doctor Who, as people who know me might have suspected). Most people have events in their lives that they wish they could go back and change, decisions and... (Continue reading)

Writing Exercise: Hats off

“She wore a raspberry beret…”
Prince, Raspberry Beret

Some of my favorite fictional characters are known for wearing distinctive hats. Dirk Gently (of Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, by Douglas Adams) is described as wearing a dark red hat with a flat brim — “…an elegant adornment… if the wearer were... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Change in the weather

“Here comes the rain again,
Raining in my head like a tragedy…”
The Eurythmics, Here Comes The Rain Again

It’s October and fall is officially here, even though some parts of the country may not be seeing any evidence of it yet. (Here, the temps are still warm, although the dwindling... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Dissatisfied

“I am everything you want
I am everything you need
I am everything inside of you
That you wish you could be
I say all the right things at exactly the right time
But I mean nothing to you and I don’t know why.”
Everything You Want, Vertical Horizon

Many people... (Continue reading)

Writing Exercise: Silence

“Words are very unnecessary /
They can only do harm.”
Depeche Mode, Enjoy The Silence

Last week, I had a bad virus and nearly lost my voice. The experience was a good reminder that spoken words are only part of a story. Many writers tend to lean heavily on dialogue and... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Superstitious

“The frogurt is also cursed.”
The Simpsons, Treehouse of Horror III

Given that it’s Friday the 13th, I couldn’t resist a prompt related to superstitions. Our culture is full of shared superstitions about things that will bring bad luck: encountering black cats, breaking mirrors, spilling salt, and so on. There are... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Undone

“Who do you need, who do you love /
when you come undone?”
Duran Duran, Come Undone

Many people have a specific person they would turn to for consolation in times of distress: a spouse, lover, friend, or relative. But what happens if that person isn’t the obvious choice — how... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Red

The color red has many different associations and meanings. Seeing red suggests anger, while a red letter day is usually a happy occasion. Red is associated with love and romance — but it’s also the color of fire and blood. Some cultures associate the color red with luck, joy, and... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Blank

Imagine someone receiving a letter — only the paper is blank. Who sent the letter, and why? And how does the recipient react to it?

Write a story, scene or poem where someone receives an anonymous, blank letter.

(Thanks to Janice Fuller and Freddy Bradburn for inspiring this week’s prompt!)

Writing Prompt: Unspoken

“There are many things that I would
Like to say to you
But I don’t know how”
Oasis, “Wonderwall”

People don’t always say what they’re really thinking or feeling, particularly when those thoughts have the potential to hurt one or both parties to the conversation. But those unspoken ideas can be... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Words, words, words

I was re-watching Sherlock episode The Blind Banker a few days ago (what else can a fan do while still waiting for Season 3?), so I thought we’d have another go using the prompt Sherlock’s Word Hunt. This time, the book in question is... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Love

“Only love can save us now.”
-Matchbox 20, “Downfall”

Love is the one subject that’s probably been explored the most in art, whether in writing, music, painting, sculpture or some other form. But have you considered what it means for your characters? Who or what do your characters love, and how... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Save me

“Maybe / You’re gonna be the one that saves me”
Oasis, “Wonderwall”

Generally, when problems arise, people (and therefore characters) fall into one of two categories: the ones who are actively trying to help themselves and the ones who are waiting to be saved. (If you want examples to compare, think... (Continue reading)

Name-play

This past week, I’ve been taking a hard look at character names in my novel draft. (Admittedly, this is something I should have done before I wrote 85,000 words about them — but I’ve never been one to do things the easy way.) I named all my major characters early... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Lost

“And all the roads we have to walk are winding /
And all the lights that lead us there are blinding”
Oasis, “Wonderwall”

This week, write about one or more characters who are lost. They could be physically lost, but also consider more subtle alternatives: characters who are emotionally floundering or... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Trust

“If you fall / I will catch you / I’ll be waiting / Time after time”
– Cyndi Lauper, “Time After Time”

Trust is an important quality in many relationships: romances, for one, and close working relationships for another. Whenever circumstances leave a person physically or emotionally vulnerable, it’s vital that... (Continue reading)

Signs and portents

Some days, I’ll be reading a novel and I’ll think, “How did this get published? I could do SO much better.” Then I think about my novel-in-progress and how much work it’s been (and more importantly, just how much work there still is to do) and I think I’m never... (Continue reading)

The Wrong Characters

So, as I might have mentioned, I spent last week at a creative writing retreat in the North Carolina mountains. I was supposed to be working on my first novel, getting the front end in shape in advance of the lovely Nayad Monroe giving it a once-over and giving me... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Lost and Found, Part 2

A few weeks ago, I shared a prompt I called Lost and Found, where a character is searching for something s/he has lost. This week, I’d like you to revisit that concept, focusing this time on a character’s reaction when s/he finds an... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Red alert

Sometimes, situations arise when people are told to be watchful, to be alert, because there’s a high likelihood of danger. Write a poem, scene or story where your character(s) are on high alert. What are the dangers facing them and how do they react? Does the potential crisis bring out... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Tick

In some stories, time itself becomes a vital component of the narrative; in the series 24, for example, we’re regularly reminded that Jack Bauer is in a race against the clock. Being on a deadline raises the stakes and should infuse the story with a sense of urgency.

This week, write... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Signs and portents

I’ve always been slightly fascinated by divination — attempting to tell the future by reading signs. I like the idea that the Universe drops us little clues about what’s coming, hints we can use to guide our behavior. People have attempted to foretell future events for centuries... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Lost and found

Earlier this week, my father dropped his wedding ring and couldn’t find where it had gone. (Cue nearly an hour of three adults looking under and behind furniture and among various and sundry items.) While we don’t often misplace extremely valuable or critical items, most of us do end up... (Continue reading)

Finding courage

So, about a month ago, I did something I haven’t done in a very, very long time: I wrote a new story and sent it to an editor. I was more than a little nervous about sending it out and wasn’t entirely sure it was ready; although I’d had the... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Unstrung Words

I recently re-read The Unstrung Harp by Edward Gorey; it’s a quirky and delightful little book about the process of writing and publishing a novel. Near the end of the book, the protagonist, Mr. Earbrass, has finally seen his latest book in print and is drained. He stands on his... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Poison

Poison gets featured quite regularly in classic tales, the ones that have survived for centuries and continue to be explored and retold. From fairy tales like Snow White to revered works like Hamlet, poison is the villain’s favorite way to get rid of someone inconvenient. These days, we don’t see... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Running

Most of us don’t regularly run except when exercising, but the act of running can add excitement or tension when used in a story. A character could be running to catch a person (friend or foe), animal (lost dog or escaped tiger), or object (blowing envelope, rolling ball, or subway... (Continue reading)

Overwhelmed and uninspired

Sadly, I’ve been feeling particularly challenged this week, so I don’t have a new writing prompt for you. As an alternative, can I suggest you visit my article about flash fiction? I have a section that has plenty of prompts to inspire you.

I’ll resume normal transmissions next week.... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Harvest

Yes, I know it’s the wrong time of year to be writing about harvests. But my muse kept pushing that word at me for some reason, so I decided to pay attention.

When we think of harvests, we traditionally think about farming and crops. But a harvest is about collecting the... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Spring cleaning

Spring is traditionally a time for cleaning house, dusting out the cobwebs and making everything shiny and fresh. But while we’re clearing our closets, do we ever check our hard drives? How many half-finished drafts and character sketches do you have sitting neglected in your files? Your challenge this week... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Fester and rot

Author Lilith Saintcrow had a blog post earlier this week about the writing process, and one thing she said really hit home for me: that if you’re a writer and you don’t write, “… a lot of wonderful stories… rot unborn inside [you].”

I know have some stories rotting inside me.... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Storm

The U.S. is experiencing some severe weather again this week, with thunderstorms, rain, hail, tornadoes, and even snow, depending on where you are. Storms are ripe with dramatic potential, since they can force your characters to cope with extreme, even life-threatening circumstances. As a survivor of Hurricane Katrina, I can... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Misunderstood

Bear with me: you’re getting a Hobbit-inspired prompt this week. (Because it’s my favorite film du jour, that’s why. And it’s not been given that exalted status just because it’s got Richard Armitage in it, although that certainly didn’t hurt.)

There’s a scene near the end of... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Loyal

Loyalty is a wonderful, admirable character trait. But what happens when loyalty is misplaced — when it’s abused or when it leads someone to take actions that are morally wrong? Write a poem, scene, or story that explores the dark side of loyalty.

For more creative writing prompts, visit... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Water

Today is World Water Day 2013, dedicated to raising awareness about the lack of clean water in so many parts of the world. In keeping with that theme, I’m presenting you a similar prompt to the one I received earlier this week from the Flash Fiction... (Continue reading)

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Writing Prompt: Odd couples

Sometimes, the most brilliant ideas come from pairing concepts that seem to be totally unrelated. The best example I know is Firefly, Joss Whedon’s short-lived TV series that sparked a fierce and widespread fandom. The idea of a space western sounded ridiculous — but it worked, and was nothing short... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Photo Prompts

I admit, I’m uninspired this week. So I’m going to let other people provide the inspiration. (After all, a picture’s worth a thousand words — right? Right?)

Pick one of the following photos and use it as the basis for a story, poem, or scene. (Images used under license from iStockPhoto.com.)

... (Continue reading)

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Writing Prompt: Regret

This week’s writing prompt is about regret. Yesterday, an old friend admitted to me that she’d done a slightly unethical favor for a friend and always regretted it. Her confession prompted me to remember a decision I wish I could change, because it made me feel like I’d taken advantage... (Continue reading)

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Writing Prompt: Gate

This week’s writing prompt is about gates. Gates have traditionally been used to block access — generally to keep something or someone on one side of the gate or another. They could be used to lock someone out or to keep something from escaping.

Historically, gates were physical structures. Today,... (Continue reading)

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Writing Prompt: Wings

This week’s prompt involves wings. Write a scene, poem, or story that revolves around someone or something with wings. The wings can be literal (an angel, bird, plane, gryphon, or dragon) or symbolic (a pilot or a stewardess; someone freed from prison).

... (Continue reading)

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Writing Prompt: Dice

I’ve been playing Elder Sign a lot lately, so this week’s prompt is about dice. Write a scene, story, or poem in which someone is literally or metaphorically taking a chance and rolling the dice. They could be playing a game like Elder Sign, Zombie Dice... (Continue reading)

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Writing Prompt: Warnings

This week had the lovely distinction (both here and in many places across the U.S.) of having severe weather warnings. Since there was a strong possibility of tornadoes, we knew our weather radio would be buzzing quite a lot Tuesday night, but we didn’t expect the added pleasure of having... (Continue reading)

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Writing Prompt: Rules

There’s a saying that states “Rules were made to be broken.” Write a scene, story or poem in which someone is breaking one or more rules.  The rules could be formal (municipal laws or professional guidelines) or casual (rules in a hobby game; fashion guidelines, like not wearing white after... (Continue reading)

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Writing Prompt: 3 words

This week, I decided to practice my earlier prompt, Sherlock’s Word Hunt, on the book I’m currently reading, Ghost Planet by Sharon Lynn Fisher. (The first word on page 15 is actually a name, so I went with the next word... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Cracks

This week’s theme is cracks; write about people or things that are cracked or cracking. It could be a physical injury (cracks in a wall, vase, cup, statue; cracked skin or bone in a person) or it might be figurative damage, like cracks in a relationship or in a person’s... (Continue reading)

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Writing Prompt: Begin

With a new year just starting, it seems appropriate to write about beginnings. Write a story, scene or poem that relates to beginnings in some fashion: a new life, new phase of life, new relationship, project or adventure.

... (Continue reading)

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Writing Prompt: End

It’s hard to believe, but another year is nearly done. So it seems fitting to write about endings. Write a scene, story or poem about some manner of endings: the ending of a day, life, relationship, job, career, journey, mission… wherever your imagination takes you.

... (Continue reading)

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Writing Prompt: White

Given that a good bit of the U.S. is either covered with snow right now or expecting it shortly, this week’s writing prompt is focused on the color white. Write about one or more concepts or objects associated with the color white. Examples include snow, ice, milk, feathers, chalk, weddings,... (Continue reading)

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Writing Prompt: Waiting

When I was a child, I can remember eagerly counting down the days until Christmas. Write a scene, story, or poem in which a person is waiting for someone or something: a person, an object (like a letter or a gift), a day or an event.

... (Continue reading)

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Writing Prompt: Quotable Quotes

This week, I’m looking to some of my favorite authors for inspiration. Here’s some interesting quotes to jump-start your creativity and get you writing your own story.

The first Twitter fiction festival

Last week, Twitter — in conjunction with the New York Public library, among others — held its first festival of fiction. I’m happy to say that I participated via the Twitter zine Nanoism, which held a daily contest during the festival. I submitted most days and was chosen... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: First lines

I was digging through my document archives and found some opening lines that I never developed into stories. Maybe one of them will inspire you. Happy writing!

• The train from Starkville was 2 hours late, and when it arrived, Mavis was nowhere to be seen.
• Sunlight glinted off the puddle of water,... (Continue reading)

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Writing Prompt: Black Friday

In honor of Black Friday, this week’s prompt revolves around the color black. Write about a subject generally associated with the color black. Examples include night, outer space, Halloween, and death.

... (Continue reading)

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Thorny sequels

Today, I discovered something new, thanks to Amazon and its friendly suggestions. Amazon knows that I own the DVD of Elizabeth Gaskell’s North & South, and since I have the original novel on my wish list, Amazon decided that maybe I’d like to read a sequel or two. I was... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Travel

Thanksgiving week typically sees the most travel of any week in the year. So it seems appropriate to base this week’s prompt on the idea of travel. Write about people going from one place to another, or trying and failing, or engaged in the process in some... (Continue reading)

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Writing Prompt: Runaway

Write about a character who is running away from a place or a situation.

Check this article for some additional prompts.

... (Continue reading)

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NaNoWriMo

So, it’s that time of year again — NaNoWriMo started this week. (If you’re unfamiliar with NaNoWriMo, it stands for National Novel Writing Month, and is a challenge to write a 50,000 word novel in the month of November.) I salute everyone taking part, because I think it’s an amazing... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: Needle

I got a flu shot last week, which started me thinking about different ways needles and syringes can be used on the body: immunization, medical injections (hormones, insulin, allergy shots), elective injections (steroids, recreational drugs), blood draws, acupuncture, tattoos. Write a scene, story, or poem where a needle pierces someone’s... (Continue reading)

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Alias

When I was in college, I was writing both mainstream fiction and genre fiction, and I felt like those arenas were two different worlds: oil and water, Montagues and Capulets. So rather than commit definitively to one or the other, I submitted my genre work with a pen name. I... (Continue reading)

Writing Prompt: List

This one is inspired by my friend Christine. Earlier in the week, she posted a “mystery list” on Facebook — she had made the list at some point in the past and now had no idea what she’d intended to do with the items. I’ve borrowed a couple of items... (Continue reading)

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Writing Prompt: Drink Me

In Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, drinking a potion causes Alice to change size. In The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, drinking a potion causes Dr. Jekyll to turn into a monstrous version of himself. These are extreme examples of liquids altering a person, but there are many... (Continue reading)

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Writing Prompt: No pictures, please

There are lots of reasons why a person might not want his or her picture taken at a particular time. Write a story or scene where a person attempts to take someone’s picture without permission and encounters resistance.

Check this article for some additional prompts.

... (Continue reading)

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Writing Prompt: Coffee and a muffin

In his book Couplehood, comedian Paul Reiser observed that people need an excuse to hang out together, and coffee provides that excuse: the hot beverage, plus the obligatory cookie or pastry, gives some purpose to the meeting and helps occupy people during conversational lulls.

Write a scene where two people meet... (Continue reading)

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Writing Prompt: The Letter

In Going Postal by Terry Pratchett, postmaster Moist von Lipwig delivers a letter (one of many) that had been sitting in the post office for decades. The letter conveyed the acceptance of a marriage proposal, and after its delivery, the couple reunited and were finally wed.

Write a poem,... (Continue reading)

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Writing Prompt: Babel

Write a scene in which the narrator needs help but is unable to verbally communicate with anyone.

Check this article for some additional prompts.

... (Continue reading)

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Writing Prompt: The Door

You’re walking down a familiar hallway. At the end of the hallway is a door which is normally locked. You’ve never been beyond the door and have no idea what might be there. You see that the door is ajar. You open it. What happens?

[Write for 5-10 minutes or as... (Continue reading)

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Writing Prompt: Super

Write a poem, scene or story in which a superhero does (or attempts to do) something mundane. Try to reveal the hero’s identity without explicitly naming the person.

Writing Prompt: Write or Die

This week’s prompt was inspired by the name of the writers’ productivity tool, Write or Die. Write a scene or story in which one character’s life depends on someone writing a memo, message, or other document.

Check this article for some additional... (Continue reading)

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Writing Prompt: What's in a Name?

I find unique or unusual names can be fascinating and start my creative mind wondering. What would that person look like? How would s/he talk or act? What kind of life has this person lived?

Here’s a selection of names to jump start your creative process. Write a story, scene or... (Continue reading)

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Writing Prompt: Quotable Wisdom

This week’s writing prompt comes from Figment.com. Write a scene, poem, or story based on this quote:

“The terrible thing about the quest for truth is that you find it.”
–Remy de Gourmont

Check this article for some additional prompts.

... (Continue reading)

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Writing Prompt: Picture This

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. So let’s test that theory! Choose a picture from these selections and try to write a thousand words (or more) based on the photo.

(All photos are royalty free from Stock.XCHNG and are used in according to the standard license.)

During one of my mealtime conversations at Wildacres writer’s workshop, fellow writer Nicole mentioned an application called Write or Die. It’s designed to keep you focused on writing by giving you negative reinforcement if you stop. Pause too long and your words start to disappear from the screen!... (Continue reading)

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Writing Prompt: Sherlock's word hunt

This prompt is inspired by episode two (“The Blind Banker”) of the BBC’s mystery drama Sherlock. (If you haven’t seen it, you really should check it out. I resisted the idea of a modern Sherlock Holmes, but it won me over with the premiere episode.)

Writing Prompt: Discworld dialogue

Many moons ago, I would send out monthly writing prompts to my fellow classmates from Gail Adams’s flash fiction class. I stopped after a couple of years when interest started waning, but at the writing retreat, mentioned that she’d like to see me revive the practice.... (Continue reading)

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Learning

I’ve been writing fiction off and on for many, many years now. (We won’t get into specific numbers. I want to maintain the illusion of youth.) I did three semesters of creative writing in college and attended at least half a dozen writing workshops over the years, so I’d gotten... (Continue reading)

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Kicking around ideas

I’ve seen many authors using Kickstarter, and I was idly looking at it yesterday, wondering if it might be useful to me in the future. I started browsing their writing projects and looked at one that was closing soon. The person had always wanted to publish a... (Continue reading)

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My favorite diversions of 2010

I know it’s a bit late to write any kind of 2010 wrap-up, but I’ve been sick (holiday germs, how festive!) so I’m only just managing to do it now. Better late than never, right?

It's a card!

But not just ANY card…

It’s a personally autographed card from one of my favorite authors, Sophie Kinsella! YIPPIE!!!

I won a contest, making me one of 100 lucky fans to receive a personalized card from Sophie Kinsella. I think this has to be the coolest promotion EVER, even if... (Continue reading)

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Connections

Have you ever noticed a connection between location and creativity? I have, and it’s been far too long since I was able to go to my creative place.

I’m not sure why, but for me, Wildacres Conference Center is the spot where my creative brain perks up and gets... (Continue reading)

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Confessions of a Former Workshop Newbie

It’s been quite a few years since my first trip to Wildacres Writing Workshop, way back in 1995. I was much younger then (weren’t we all?), and having survived 3 semesters of short story workshops in college, I thought I was a good writer. It had been over 4 years... (Continue reading)

Eeee!

I have a new project that I’m terribly excited about; I’ve got an SEO gig working with the directors of the Wildacres Writers Workshop, a place that calls to me despite my long absence. Wildacres is a spot that resonates with something deep in me; when I’m there, it’s... (Continue reading)

We interrupt this regularly scheduled program...

Lately, I’ve been watching far too much TV. I hadn’t been an avid viewer in years, but after Hurricane Katrina, TV started to be an easy, escapist pleasure for me. And over the past six months, the unthinkable happened: TV started taking the place of my beloved books.

Final Tally

Well, I didn’t read all the books I’d hoped to in 2008, but I think I did fairly well. I got through all but five, plus lots of newly purchased selections, for a grand total of 24 books completed during the year. Two of the remaining “lost titles” have... (Continue reading)

Regaining the joy of reading

For years now, I’ve started each January with a reading goal for myself. In the past, it’s always been a certain number of new books a year — a goal designed to draw me away from the same old favorites and towards new authors and... (Continue reading)

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Twelve to go

Every year, I challenge myself to read a certain number of new books, in an effort to keep from stagnating by reading the same favorite titles repeatedly. This year, I decided to try something a bit different: my challenge is to read all the books that I’d bought but never... (Continue reading)

Still reading... and packing...

Sorry for the long dry spell here, with only sidebar updates. I’ve been a bit preoccupied, since my parents & I are moving in roughly a week’s time. Even pooling our resources, housing here in post-Katrina New Orleans is just too expensive, and now that we’re taking care of my... (Continue reading)

The Race to Read

A few years ago, I noticed a trend in my reading patterns that bothered me: I spent most of my time re-reading old favorites and very little time reading new books. Not that I stopped buying new books — I did plenty of that, with the result that... (Continue reading)