I’ve mentioned before that I’m a fan of keeping a daily journal. Not only to keep track of ideas for stories and poems, but also as a sort of mental health treatment. Being able to write down my thoughts, fears, anxieties, and dreams helps me to keep the attic clear…
Tag: Writer
Creativity
Read more
Writing Fiction – The Pain of Editing
Arguably the hardest part of being a writer is editing your work. For me, it’s like having a pile of puzzle pieces and trying to sort them into a coherent image. Or filling in the blank on a Mad Lib. There’s cutting, slicing, and rearranging. I toss aside lines and…
Creativity
Read more
Writing Fiction – The First Draft Dilemma
I have a love/hate relationship with first drafts. I call it my first draft dilemma. On one hand, I love writing a first draft. The idea for the story is fresh in my mind. I’m going along for a ride to see where it takes me. Usually, I don’t even…
Books
Read more
Writing Fiction – Showing Vs. Telling
I’ve been reading and reviewing a lot of books lately. I’d say that roughly half of them have been well-written and engaging. The other half, well, the authors were in need of a good editor. Not that the ideas were bad. No, the problem I’m seeing most often is that…
Books
Read more
Writing Fiction – Finding a Narrative Voice
I think that, for many writers, it’s easy to default to their own voice when writing fiction. It’s familiar and it’s comfortable. I’m guilty of it myself. But I’ve found that it’s far more interesting to find a narrative voice that fits the story you’re telling. It makes the stories…