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 »
Patricia Boyle’s poem, “Unraveling the Natural World,” and Yvonne Carder’s poem “Life on a Slide” won honorable mention awards in March in Livermore’s first annual science poetry contest, Poetry in a Test Tube. Annette Langer was interviewed by a columnist from the Pleasanton Weekly newspaper about her writing in general, and …
Writing Recognition-Poems, Short Stories, and Books Read More »
Dan Hobbs, writing as Ben Leiter, has published the third book in his Baby Boomer’s Betrayal series. God’s Betrayal: The Credo is a political-religious thriller. Father Gabriel Garza has just started his ministry in the Archdiocese of Washington, DC, but he already asks too many impertinent questions. Learn what secrets Garza discovers and reveals to Paolo Nasrani, his mysterious thesis advisor, and …
Join us Saturday, June 17, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. at the Four Points by Sheraton, 5115 Hopyard Road, Pleasanton, as Kate Farrell presents “A New Age of Fire: Storytelling & Public Speaking.” Ms. Farrell believes in the power of story and of the story motifs from the oral tradition. Their enduring appeal continues to shape and …
June 17, 2017: A New Age of Fire: Storytelling & Public Speaking 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, …
I am a writer, therefore I collect technique books. And articles. And notes on random scraps of paper. I’ll save anything that will help me get through a muddy plot or tame a misbehaving character. The problem I have isn’t a lack of information but the wrong timing. The most brilliant advice in the world …
Annette Langer’s story, “Out of the Blue, A Family,” published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Random Acts of Kindness, was featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul’s podcast with Amy Newmark on March 2, 2017. Annette’s story is told in “Thoughtful Thursday: Family Is What We Make It – How Kindness Paid off in …
Mona Dawson’s story, Georgia (On My Mind), was published in the January issue of Bay Woof, a magazine for dog lovers. Mona’s story is about the loss of her beloved pet samoyed, Georgia. James “J” Mills completed his twelfth issue as the editor of Bay & Delta Yachtsman magazine, in which he also writes …
March began quietly. I finished a story for critique group. I did the laundry. I listened to the weather report so I could prepare for the next rain storm. February is short, and there are deadlines. Between getting the tax information collected, registering for the April 22 Tri-Valley Writers conference (have you registered yet?) and …
