Wednesday Wisdom for Writers and Those Who Love Them

"A successful book is not made of what is in it, but what is left out of it." —Mark Twain

It's all better with friends.

Over The Top Writing (Not a good thing)

Hello.

My name is Peg
and sometimes I tend to write over the top.

Before I give you an example, let me just say that I'm working through my very own recovery program (and that's not to make light of anyone who has actually gone through a 12-step program for addiction).

The thing is, when I write over the top I get euphoric.  High. Yep. It's my favorite place to be. I think that particular scene sparkles with everything a writer should strive for. I don't see the fluff. The pretense. The pure crap. I see literary style.

Thank goodness I've been anchored (yes, anchored) to some take-no-prisoners editors who've called me on it every time.

Here's my latest:

FLAMES SCREAMED out the windows, reaching up and licking the air like crack whores hungry for the next fix that could keep them going a little longer. The charged orange creatures chased the oxygen that pushed and twisted them into demented dancers. The ironic contrast between the energized heat from the fire and the snow nestled peacefully on nearby pines underscored the silence broken by the wail of sirens. 

Undulating smoke changed color depending on what was being consumed, then veiled silently down the mountain valley. The shades of gray faded into a harmless and barely discernible mist, its secrets lost.

The was the old opening for FLAME GAME. While I still love it, it's history. It fed me, not the story.  

As readers, have you ever read anything that sounded over the top? What did you think? Did you keep reading?

As writers, can any of you identify?

It's all better with friends.

Wednesday Wisdom for Writers and Those Who Love Them

"I love being a writer. What I can't stand is the paperwork." —Peter De Vries

I regularly have to remove piles of paper. Some of it is manuscript, others are things I print out to read later (and rarely do), and still others need to be filed because I'll need them for taxes or something equally daunting.

It's all better with friends.

RED TIDE's New Cover

I've wanted to get a dog onto the cover of RED TIDE for a long time.

This is a great silhouette of Gretchen, the Human Remains Detection dog who has a nice role in the story.

If you haven't already read it, RED TIDE will be free for Kindle May 17th through May 19th.

***Edit*** Feel free to spread the word.



It's all better with friends.

Wednesday Wisdom for Writers and Those Who Love Them

"The difference between the almost right word and the right word is the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning." —Mark Twain


One of my favorite tools is THE SYNONYM FINDER. Searching for the right word often leads to a wonderful surprise. Does that ever happen to you?


It's all better with friends.

Wednesday Wisdom for Writers and Those Who Love Them

"I don't need an alarm clock. My ideas wake me." —Ray Bradbury

BAMM!


It's all better with friends.