Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Wednesday Wisdom for Writers and Those Who Love Them

"The chief cause of unhappiness is giving up what you want the most for what you want at the moment." —I Wish I Knew



This is one of my favorite quotes, applicable to everyone, and particularly relevant as we begin a new year.




It's all better with friends.





Friday, December 26, 2014

Plot Twists

In FLAME GAME I have some plot twists. Hopefully they provide a momentary surprise, but once they're revealed they feel quite natural. I think that's the key to a good plot twist.

I'm struggling with wanting to have a huge twist at the end of this book. Actually, what I want is a jaw-dropping, head-smacking, OMG moment. But I'm not finding one that feels organic to this story.

To be fair (to me), even when the current plot twists transpire, and the reader knows what was done by who, I think they might still want to hang in there to find out how the good guys find out what happened.

What do you think about the jaw-dropping plot twist at the end of a book? Do you love it? (Duh.) Is it necessary?

I really want to know.


It's all better with friends.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Wednesday Wisdom for Writers and Those Who Love Them

"When writing a novel it's faith, not confidence, that will help you finish." —Peg Brantley



Merry Christmas, everyone!




It's all better with friends.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Wednesday Wisdom for Writers and Those Who Love Them

This is one of my all-time favorites:

"Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass." —Anton Chekhov


Showing is more difficult to do then telling, but it is much more powerful. And while there is such a thing as too much showing and not enough telling, every writer should work hard to show the glint of light on broken glass to bring the reader into the scene.


It's all better with friends.



Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Wednesday Wisdom for Writers and Those Who Love Them

"I write because I'm afraid to say some things out loud." —Gordon Atkinson


I know this has been true for me. It's easier to tell a story that highlights an idea or create a character who isn't afraid of anything, including what other people think.


It's all better with friends.

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Wednesday Wisdom for Writers and Those Who Love Them

"What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal." —Albert Pike


It's all better with friends.