Tag: Book

April 4, 2016

Never Let the Truth Get in the Way of a Good Story

If you Google this proverb, you’ll come up with plenty of sites that attribute it to Mark Twain (Goodreads, for one); however, I haven’t been able to find any reliable proof that he actually said it. And while I’d like to be able to say that it’s his quote (there’s something emotionally satisfying about quoting Mark Twain), I like to...

Categories Quotes, Words, & Phrases Comments: 7

February 26, 2016

Traditional Publishing vs. Indie Publishing: How Should I Sell My Book?

Traditional publishing vs. indie publishing is another “why are you asking me?” question. It’s also a question you’re going to have to answer for yourself; however, I can give you some information that may help inform your decision. Answering this question generally comes down to a combination of 4 factors: prestige, control, money, and time/energy (they’re the same factor in this case –...

Categories Business & Publishing/General Thoughts & Updates Comments: 0

February 19, 2016

Double Meaning & Truth(s): How to Lie without Lying

If you need to hide a truth in a truth, double-meaning is your best friend. I know that doesn’t sound like it makes sense, but I promise it actually does. A double meaning (also known as a double entendre) has a pretty accurate name – it’s when a statement or action has multiple meanings (or truths). The only part of...

Categories General Thoughts & Updates/Literary Devices & Writing Techniques Comment: 1

November 19, 2015

6 Methods to Hook Readers

Anyone else learn about hooks in high school? You know, those one-line bits of magic that supposedly made your college application essay more interesting and enthralling to the poor brain-numbed grader? They’re baaack… Joking aside, hooks are in everything – or at least the concept of hooks is. A hook isn’t necessarily a one-liner. It can be an idea, a...

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

November 18, 2015

The Art of the Unexpected

If you want to spend an entertaining and informative afternoon, look up your favorite comic strips and standup comedians. Then, analyze them. You can still watch and laugh, but actually pay attention to how they’re making you laugh. Both mediums have the same goal (to make you laugh), and neither one has a lot of time to do it in....

Categories Creative Process Comments: 2

November 15, 2015

Programs for Writers: Scrivener

Did you know that there are computer programs designed especially for writers? If you look at the list of goodies from the NaNoWriMo sponsors, you’ll see several deals on programs such as Scrivener, Ulysses, Storyist, and Evernote. I have only tried Scrivener, so I can’t describe how the others work; however, I figure that if you hadn’t heard about any of these programs,...

Categories General Thoughts & Updates/Research & Worldbuilding/Writer Resources Comments: 6

November 13, 2015

A Book Within A Book: A Rant In Two Parts

Sorry, everyone, but I feel the need to rant for a moment. I was re-reading a book the other day (no big surprise there), and I ran into a section that bothers me every time I read the book. The one or two other times I’ve read this one, I’ve skipped over it (including the first time), and normally skipping...

Categories General Thoughts & Updates Comments: 0

November 12, 2015

Blind Love & Letting Go

I’m sure that all of us have had an idea or a scene or a character that we come up with that simply makes us fall in love. We think it’s the best thing since sliced pizza, and we can’t imagine anyone disagreeing. And when we’re right, it’s magic. Unfortunately, sometimes we’re wrong. Oddly enough, a lot of the time,...

Categories Creative Process/General Thoughts & Updates Comments: 0

November 8, 2015

Find Time To Read

Whether you’re doing NaNoWriMo or any other writing project, you’re probably doing your best to write every day. Maybe, you’re aiming for 1,000 words a day. Maybe, you’re working on several different projects. Or maybe, you spend most of your day writing. All of those options are great. If you’re doing any of them, congratulations! Just don’t forget to take...

Categories General Thoughts & Updates Comment: 1

November 1, 2015

You Can’t Scare Your Audience Without Suspension of Disbelief

All this talk about horror seems like the perfect time to mention suspension of disbelief – the ability to set aside reality long enough to enjoy the story. As readers or audience members, we have to accept the underlying “lies” of the story (supernatural monsters, magic, amazingly advanced technology, talking animals, or even people bursting out into song and dance),...

Categories General Thoughts & Updates/Literary Devices & Writing Techniques Comments: 3