· Fourteen Therapeutic Pet Ducks, 24 Bearded Dragons, and a Masked Batman Caper · "You can't make this stuff up!" I tell other writers. We're all in agreement. If you want any ideas for your writing, you don't need to read fake news online. Just take a few "real" headlines and start writing. Free-writing is one form used by writers to get started. You just take a topic, start writing, and see where it leads you. Today I'm using three brief AP news stories as examples of how topics … [Read more...] about More Seeds to Sow
Seeds to Sow
· Questions to Ask · Recently, in a Hutchinson News article, there was a story about a long-time bar being forced to close due to dwindling customer support. The owner was sharing a lot of memories with the reporter, but there was one that I knew immediately would fit into many a novel, maybe one of mine. Surprise! It's not a drunken fight scene. The owner recalled how when she and all her female employees took the night off to attend an event, they left a few male employees in charge at … [Read more...] about Seeds to Sow
Seeds to a Story
· Listen, Read, Write, Repeat · If you're a writer, or want to be a writer, do you save story-starters? Do you file newspaper clippings, save Pinterest images, or write down bits of overheard conversations, certain you'll use the comments or pictures in future dialogue? Maybe your file is labeled, "Save - to Use Later." I'm reading the Hutchinson News, and I glance at the obituaries and see the name, "Billy Goodenough." I don't know him, but his name just sticks in my … [Read more...] about Seeds to a Story
Cultural Exposure
· Albinism and Africa · I've never been to Tanzania, but I've researched the country, especially the PWA community. The acronym stands for People With Albinism. If you want to learn more about the genetic condition called albinism, I recommend the National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation (NOAH). If you want information on the fight against attacks on people with albinism, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, then Under the Same Sun (UTSS), operated out of Canada, is the … [Read more...] about Cultural Exposure
Creative Writing
· Fake News · Today the media talks about the alarming impact of "fake news." No doubt that in our instant, mass communication world, one fraudulent or deceptive story can cause massive confusion with grave consequences. Check out this "exaggeration" post card from 1937 showing a rather large grasshopper that died of lead poisoning. Similar manipulated, tall-tale images had been in circulation since the early 1900's, the Golden Age of Postcards. The popularity of early cards was due … [Read more...] about Creative Writing
Best Character Descriptions
· WANTED FOR MURDER · I've been collecting "Reward" postcards since I was first hired by the Reno County Sheriff's Office (KS). I find the descriptors fascinating. Most of these penny postcards were quickly printed and mailed once a criminal offense was reported to local law enforcement. Of course, this was in the day long, long before instant communication. The sheriff told the receivers of the card (other law enforcement agencies) that he could be contacted by wire, meaning via … [Read more...] about Best Character Descriptions
Using Metaphors
· Metaphorically Speaking · "Our marriage is like an iris that no longer blooms," she said. "It doesn't laugh. It doesn't smile. The plant looks healthy but never joyous." "Jesse, you can still bloom," the counselor said. "Is it too late?" Jesse asked. "A healthy marriage needs the right nutrients. A good marriage, a great marriage, has the right ingredients and it has them in balance: the right amount of air, sun, and water." I marvel at the sight of blooming iris. They bring me pleasure. … [Read more...] about Using Metaphors
A Writing Environment
· Peer Support · Despite all the people and animals residing in our home--gerbil, snakes, cats, turtles, birds, rabbits, horses, bull, elephant--visitors often remark how much they enjoy the peace and quiet. But once our friends get introduced to the multitude of characters, they begin to understand how many stories are interwoven into our tranquil environment. Thanks to artist and storyteller, J. Alex Potter, our home resembles a fine art gallery. The stories are everywhere! I've … [Read more...] about A Writing Environment
A Writer’s Rabbit Hole
· Down the Rabbit Hole · I've traveled down many rabbit holes before completing a first draft of a book. The trip down the black hole always begins innocently enough, with nothing but good intentions: I believe I need to get enough useful background on a topic before I can start the story. But there are inherent risks in entering a rabbit hole. Once you start on the path, it can become disorienting, deranging, and difficult to turn around. In my research on the Guna tribe of Panama, … [Read more...] about A Writer’s Rabbit Hole
Research in Writing
· Read and Travel · If you write fiction, have you created a place for your characters to hang out? Writing is a combination of reading, travel, and imagination. Research and fact-checking are crucial. If you've used a travel guide or app, then your readers depend on you, the writer, to be accurate with locations and recommendations. If you write non-fiction, then consider the impact on others if they follow your advice about exotic tours, five-star restaurants, and comfortable … [Read more...] about Research in Writing
