As I’ve been working on my WIP, two main themes have emerged so far: time and mortality. The passing of time and impending death are common themes in some of my favorite novels, poems, and plays. Death is the great equalizer, after all. Since this is Halloween month, I thought it was a good time … Continue reading From Dickens To Today: Why Writers Can’t Escape Time and Mortality
creative writing inspiration
My Weekend Routine as a Working Writer
* * * * * The Loving Husband Trilogy Box Set will be a Kindle Countdown sale starting tomorrow, 10/15, on Amazon. If you have Kindle Unlimited, all three books are FREE until 11/16. This Halloween, surrender to the shadows of the paranormal with three novels, one Gothic romance, and many deadly secrets. The countdown … Continue reading My Weekend Routine as a Working Writer
A Chapter Outline Can Be Your Friend (Even If You’re a Pantster)
Over the years, I’ve become more of a pantster (someone who flies by the seat of my pants) instead of a plotter (someone who writes out a detailed plot outline). I’m not entirely sure why the change happened. Maybe I simply learned to trust my own writing process. Maybe I realized that most of my carefully … Continue reading A Chapter Outline Can Be Your Friend (Even If You’re a Pantster)
How to Keep Going With a Writing Project When You Want to Give Up
Where is My Story Hiding? Every writer knows the moment when the glitter of a new idea has dulled and your story feels like it might be an unsalvageable mess. You start to wonder if you should put it aside for now, or maybe forever. I’m writing from experience because that’s where I was with … Continue reading How to Keep Going With a Writing Project When You Want to Give Up
How to Write a Historical Mystery That Brings the Past To Life
Historical fiction is kind of my thing. I was the executive editor of a literary journal of historical fiction for more than 20 years, and most of the novels I've written are historical. Last week I shared some general mystery writing tips. This week, I want to share what I've learned specifically about writing historical … Continue reading How to Write a Historical Mystery That Brings the Past To Life
How To Write a Mystery That Keeps Readers Guessing
There’s something just irresistible about a good mystery. While I’ve loved to watch TV mysteries for as long as I can remember, I’ve only started reading mysteries within the last year or so. When I decided to try my hand at writing one, I had to learn how to write a mystery novel. True, a mystery … Continue reading How To Write a Mystery That Keeps Readers Guessing
Finding Your Voice: How To Discover Your Unique Writing Style
When I’m teaching writing, one of my favorite things to cover is the author's voice. It’s an intriguing subject for me because a strong author voice can make a piece, and a boring author voice can break it. When I was running The Copperfield Review, one thing that quickly turned me off from wanting to … Continue reading Finding Your Voice: How To Discover Your Unique Writing Style
More Than Just Macabre: Fascinating Elements of Poe’s Short Stories
A few weeks ago I shared some of what I’ve learned about Edgar Allan Poe’s literary style. Here’s the post. This week I wanted to share a little more about what I’ve learned about Poe’s short stories. While Poe’s reputation as a master of the macabre is well-earned, to label him only as a horror … Continue reading More Than Just Macabre: Fascinating Elements of Poe’s Short Stories