Sometimes I have trouble writing, particularly if the scene involves something I haven’t experienced in real life. In this scene, my character Jake says goodnight to his young daughter, Susie. Even though it’s short, it took me a solid two hours of work. It isn’t easy to write what you know if it is somethingContinue reading “Susie Pretends to Be Asleep: A Charming Bedtime Game”
Tag Archives: writing
Mastering Conciseness: Tips for Better Writing
Sometimes you have to “unwrite” to improve a sentence. I read an interview of a famous writer whose name escapes me. It was long ago. He was asked how he knew the correct words to include in a piece of writing. He responded that it was more important to know the correct words to remove.Continue reading “Mastering Conciseness: Tips for Better Writing”
A Haunting Reunion: Emily’s Return
An excerpt of my new Work in Progress, untitled as of now. My phone alerts me that someone is at the door. I don’t remember setting that up on my phone, although I know Emily’s house has a Ring system.I click on the notification.This can’t be.It looks like Emily, and she’s coming toward the frontContinue reading “A Haunting Reunion: Emily’s Return”
Editing Insights: Keeping Readers Guessing
I am editing “The Scene,” my ninth Work In Progress. It didn’t come out quite the way I envisioned. Still, that is what makes Discovery Writing such a challenge —and so much fun. This part is also fun. I make sure I didn’t reveal too much. This way, no reader should be able to guessContinue reading “Editing Insights: Keeping Readers Guessing”
Unraveling Secrets: Mia’s Emotional Journey
From last time- “The Scene update” Had her father been the real killer? Could she have heard the real murderer arguing with her mom? Can anything she is thinking about the real killer’s identity be true? She doesn’t know at this time. It can still change. That is how discovery writing can go. And whatContinue reading “Unraveling Secrets: Mia’s Emotional Journey”
The Scene: A Journey Through Grief and Discovery
I am nearing completion of my ninth Work in Progress. I call it “The Scene.” I used my late wife Judy’s college creative writing paper, also titled “The Scene,” as a prompt. Her Scene is here. In my story, my character, Emily, takes Judy’s place as the writer of that Scene. The Scene, as aContinue reading “The Scene: A Journey Through Grief and Discovery”
Another example of Judy’s writing
My wife hid much of her life from me for reasons unknown. It has now been six years since she passed, and I continue to find hints and pieces of that unknown life she chose to keep secret. She was the valedictorian of her high school class. She earned “Honors at Entry” for college andContinue reading “Another example of Judy’s writing”
Weird technology in my world—
Currently (pun intended), I own a 2024 Prius Prime plug-in Hybrid. Soon after buying this, I found it flashing warning messages I wasn’t aware existed. My car has criticized my posture, telling me to “Sit Up!” and reminding me to pay attention by flashing “Driver Inattention Detected” on the main screen. That’s fine. It onlyContinue reading “Weird technology in my world—”
The Scene
I found this short paper in a box of things Judy had saved that I had no idea still existed. She had told me she had taken a creative writing course in college. Here is an example of that writing. I used this short paper as a prompt for my ninth novel. The Sceneby JudyContinue reading “The Scene”
Memory is the Key 