There are days when I can write stories, and there are days when I can write titles. Alas, the titles don’t always match the stories. Still, writing is writing, so I keep a file of all the titles that manage to stick to a memory cell long enough for me to record them. Whether I’ll …
There are times when the universe whacks you over the head and shouts, “Pay attention!” The universe is speaking to me about my writing practice, and what I need to include. Tri-Valley Writers started a field trip series to get us out of our writing dens and into the fresh air. The first outing was …
Tri-Valley Writers second plein-air field trip of the summer will be in downtown Livermore. Join us in this urban setting complete with coffee shops, restaurants, strolling pedestrians, and benches where an observant writer can take in the passing scene. The event will take place July 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. We will meet …
Tri-Valley Writers Summer Field Trip Series: Lizzie Fountain Read More »
I talked with a friend the other day who told me about tracking down the truth of some old family stories. Her grandmother, it appears, may have been a waitress in a Southern restaurant frequented by mobsters on the run in the 1930s. The family had sent her to a private school, but then the …
I’m reading The Oregon Trail by Rinker Buck, who decided to outfit a covered wagon and revisit what is left of the Oregon Trail. He spends a couple of chapters talking about wagons. The Conestoga Wagon may be what most people remember from history class, but that wasn’t the wagon that went west. The Conestoga …
Experience plein-air writing at Dublin Heritage Park and Museums in our first ever summer field trip. Use writing prompts as you explore this environment rich in local history. Led by student member Tiffany Jing, our free summer field trip series provides a chance to get together during the general meeting summer hiatus and write in a variety of …
Now that the weather is better, I find myself away from the computer more often. The writing projects lined up on my desk are gathering dust, metaphorically and literally. I wasn’t quite at the point of despair because the weather is beautiful, but the nagging voice in my head was getting louder. Then, on a …
Stairway to Story: A writing prompt by Lani Longshore Read More »
Most writers have heard these words but then shrug them off. The hard part may be finding the right niche. Once found, you can earn an income. Before you get too excited, at the start you probably will want to hold on to that day job. With your first assignment, however, you’ll have the satisfaction …
Submit your writing for publication and get paid! by Paula Chinick Read More »
Over the years, I’ve read lots of books and articles about creating memorable characters. Early on, the advice focused on visualizing your character and considering how gender, height, weight, coloring, and recognizable facial markings could have affected that character’s life. Later, it became fashionable to think of fashion. What did it mean that your character …
Creating memorable characters with a go-to excuse by Lani Longshore Read More »
I just finished Lisa Cron’s Story Genius. It’s a fabulous book with some outstanding exercises, especially for finding the real starting point for your novel. I’ve started planning my next novel, exploring my characters, and collecting scenes that will help me find the right place to begin the story. My revelation for this blog, however, …
