Words & Deeds

December 3, 2015

NaNoWriMo: Is The Verdict In Yet?

Well, you’ve had two days to recover from the NaNoWriMo experience. Are you awake enough to tell us how it turned out?  I have to admit that I’m curious. Although I haven’t tried the challenge personally, I remember when I first started trying to write a couple of hours a day. It was a shock. I’d worked on different novels...

Categories Creative Process Comments: 0

December 2, 2015

How Much Characterization Can You Get Out Of 1 Word?

Having a character use this word is instant characterization. Off the top of my head, I can picture 3 entertaining uses: The Attempt To Be PC – Maybe it’s the Latin, but I picture a young, inexperienced person who was raised in the upper echelons. I imagine that he/she is put on the spot in some fancy cocktail party and after stumbling for a polite term, reverts to...

Categories Characterization, Plot, & Setting/Humor & Wordplay/Quotes, Words, & Phrases Comments: 0

December 1, 2015

Characterization Through Dialogue

If you’re having trouble with characterization, you might want to check the dialogue. Even though real people don’t talk like book characters, dialogue is one of the fastest and most reliable ways to communicate what a character is like and where a character is from without going into a lot of detail. And the most important part of using dialogue for characterization...

Categories Characterization, Plot, & Setting/General Thoughts & Updates/Literary Devices & Writing Techniques Comments: 3

November 30, 2015

The Carte Blanche of a Likable Character

A while back, I was watching the M*A*S*H* series, and I had a little epiphany. It started when I realized that although Hawkeye and Trapper regularly tormented George Burns, the series always framed their actions as humorous and Burns’ actions as mean-spirited and wrong – which is essentially how the audience took it. And most of the time, Hawkeye and Trapper’s...

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November 29, 2015

Tea & Sex: The Power of Analogies

Have you ever tried to communicate an idea to someone who can’t seem to grasp what you’re saying? Your evidence and arguments are dismissed or ignored, or maybe you’re just having a hard time verbalizing your stance? Analogies can be a great way to make a point to someone when regular arguments fail. They’re also useful for persuasive articles or videos. I’m...

Categories Literary Devices & Writing Techniques/Videos Comments: 0

November 28, 2015

Writing Ahead: A Lesson Learned From Exhaustion

The past week has taught me a lot about writing ahead when I can. I say when I can because, obviously, I can’t do that with  twytte (that would defeat the purpose), but I usually try to keep this blog 1 a week ahead. For a few months, I was 2 weeks ahead. This week (this exhausting, ridiculous week) was the first time I haven’t been...

Categories General Thoughts & Updates Comments: 0

November 27, 2015

Where Do You Write?

Writing in a café may not be your style, but it is a definite favorite of mine. Actually, I love writing in restaurants of any kind. I started doing it because it was a way to get some writing in on my lunch break or when traveling. It’s also a great way to get away from housemates, a confining space,...

Categories Inspiration/Quotes, Words, & Phrases Comments: 0

November 26, 2015

5 Great Reasons for Writers to Be Thankful in 2015

Yes, I’m going to be predictable and talk about being thankful on Thanksgiving. As a writer in 2015, however, there is plenty to be thankful for. Be glad I’m only going to talk about my top 5. 5 .  Novel Writing Classes Let’s face it. Fiction as we know it is only around a hundred years old (and that’s pushing...

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November 25, 2015

Ocean’s Eleven & Learning from Other People’s Mistakes

A lot of improving our writing is learning from our own mistakes. But why stop there? Let’s learn from other people’s mistakes. If you want to try this, some of the most revealing pieces to examine are works in progress or works that were re-released. Other than movies of Broadway musicals where the change is apparent over time (such as Rodgers...

Categories Characterization, Plot, & Setting/General Thoughts & Updates/Research & Worldbuilding/Theatre & Film Comments: 0

November 24, 2015

A.K.A. How You Learn To Write

It is how you learn to write – or do anything else for that matter. Humans learn by making mistakes. Or by watching other people make mistakes. There’s no two ways around it.

Categories Creative Process/Quotes, Words, & Phrases Comments: 0