“I was really surprised to find out…” The author’s sleepy words dribbled off into a mumble. His wife’s eyes widened. Why couldn’t he be like other men that enjoy football games, movies, and maybe even come to bed at night? Instead he types like a maniac until the no longer wee hours, drinks coffee until […]
Finish This Sentence: “I was really surprised to find out…” Read More »
Kyle made this delicious cover for me. I love the art, but not so much the layout. Maybe it should just be called Barrington Hall? Secrets sounds sinister but maybe potential readers will think it’s a romance. Needs more blood. I’m going to rewrite it in December from the first person perspective (Bartholomew’s) as an
Secrets of Barrington Hall – Update Read More »
I remember one sunny day in September, sitting on the corner of Dwight and Telegraph, strumming my guitar absent-mindedly—what song is this again?—my myopic eyes in constant scanning patterns, searching crowds, reminiscent of the night before, when I found and lost and found you again. Remember I gave you that American Beauty that my friend plucked
Uncrossing the Stars Read More »
Yeah, I’m proud! LOL. This novel was pretty tough at first, but once I recovered from the election, the need to rise above intensified. I forced myself to ask why I was making such difficult choices and commitment, when I am willing to let external events affect me. Bad as this year has been for
Nanowrimo Winner Status Read More »
I have a lot of revision to do. This is truly an “ugly first draft”, but the story is coming together as I write. Three more chapters to go, plus two intermission segments, altogether about 17000-20000 words, which can certainly be done in the 10 days remaining at this pace. This will indeed need a
Moving to the Climax Now Read More »
I think I’ve really turned the corner on this one. I cannot write it fast enough. It very simply flows and I just have to write it down. Character led, just like it’s supposed to be, and it’s filling an enormous void in my fantasy world. A history is being created. I’m very happy about
Lyza Is Really Turning the Corner – Keep Going, Girl – Bring This Home Read More »
Today’s effort definitely helped. I’ve a good layout for the next chapter too. I think the book is coming along pretty well, even though it isn’t precisely the story I wanted to tell. For a first draft, it’s not too bad.
Progress Report – Lyza Still Lives (but was on life support) Read More »
I’m making fair progress, but I had plans to be farther along. Looking forward to a few more hours tomorrow.
Nanowrimo Progress Read More »
All I Crave Heavy hungry nights of strange appetites Lurid hunts through jungles of reward. Faces painted with hope. Inked by savage tendencies, proposals of bizarre possibilities, vivid promises of hard realization. Satisfaction somehow, somewhere, somewhen. When all I wanted, needed. Lusted, starved for Heart, Head, Loins… Soul All alongside me. Right here. Immediate in
From high in the passenger seat of a Peterbilt truck, the featureless expanse of the Great Plains stretched to the horizons. Beside me The Cisco Kid, a Canadian trucker, my ride, a lonely soul who spotted me hitchhiking in Sacramento, thumped the steering wheel, keeping time. It was March, and Cisco — I never learned
The Shiny Side Stayed Up Read More »
It’s a sunny afternoon in April 2004. Although I’ve consumed three doppios since rising at noon, I’m half-asleep when I grope for the telephone from behind three code-filled monitors — one buzzing with dangerous static. The phone’s chirped five times before I answer. “You sent a letter to my son.” It’s Jim, my oldest brother.
Garbled Dispatches Read More »
Security: When I was eight, Susan, a classmate, was kidnapped, raped, and murdered, and her severed fingers mailed home. I remember Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King getting shot. The Zodiac Killer haunted our region. The Vietnam War was raging. Horror was my childhood’s backdrop. My first friends: after moving to Sacramento in 1972, becoming
What’s Gone Is Gone. Next Please Read More »
Annoying Things Characters Do That We Don’t Want To Read About!
Stop Annoying Characters BEFORE They Creep Into Your Writing! Read More »
So adverbs get a lot of hate, especially the -ly ones, and worse than any, the ones on dialogue tags. A lot of good modern writers, Stephen King, James Patterson, and Brandon Sanderson among them, have argued against wide use of adverbs. Here are some dissenting opinions (and better advice): Adverbs Are Not The Enemy
Adverb Hating Tonic Read More »
https://www.reddit.com/r/imaginarymaps (Links to an external site.) https://www.reddit.com/r/worldbuilding (Links to an external site.) https://www.reddit.com/r/conlangs (Links to an external site.) http://www.zompist.com/ (Links to an external site.)
Useful World-Building Links – most are subreddits (will add to this) Read More »