Writing Tips
What’s Underneath the Judge’s Robe?
“A judge has the final say. It’s his decision. And his decision should be what is best for the poor soul before him, whomever he may be.”
What’s wrong with that sentence? Slightly sexist huh? Why can’t the judge, or the defendant for that matter, be a “she”? Before we begin judging the nature of [...]
How to Start a Writing Group
Writing can be a very solitary means of expression. Most art is. The artist paints a picture, the writer pens a novel, the sculptor chisels a figure in stone. Then hopefully they will share their creation with the world.
But what if the artist had feedback during the creative process?
For the writer, a writer’s [...]
The Montauk Monster is Real
If you haven’t heard, a monster has washed up on a New York shore. Some say it’s a hoax. Others say it is a dog, perhaps a pit bull, that has succumbed to the effects of ocean water. Still others are quick to say it’s a sea-turtle that lost its shell. Theories, and conspiracy theories [...]
Kill Your Darlings
Last week we discussed the ten commandments of writing. This week we’ll move on to another topic inspired by Mr. King with his phrase “Kill Your Darlings”.
Imagine you’re finished. Finally finished. You’ve typed “The End” on the last page of the novel you’ve been working on for the last year. You’re elated. After all of [...]
Forewords Don’t Have to Be Painful
Say a good friend has written a book and has asked if you would mind writing the foreword. After the initial honor has faded you are left with a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach that promises to drag you down with it.
How do you start? What the heck is this thing called [...]
The Ten Commandments of Writing - Continued
Welcome back. Are you ready for the next five commandments on writing as stated by Mr. King? Here they are (fanfare please….):
6. When your reader sees what you see it’s telepathy - This is my favorite. Think about it for a moment.
7. No need to explain what characters look like - I used to [...]
The Ten Commandments of Writing
In my favorite writing nook there was a piece of paper I use to keep taped to the wall beside me. My writing nook has changed since those days and the piece of paper no longer hangs on the wall but the words are here in my laptop and I pull the document up every [...]
Song Lyrics Can Harm You
I love Blue Oyster Cult. Always did. I remember being 14 years old and rushing to the record store to buy Fire of Unknown Origin the second it hit the shelf. I still have that copy. The corners are a little dog-eared and the shape of the vinyl record (what’s that??) within can be seen wearing [...]
Your Grandparents Know More Than the Internet…
“Information could only be a branch away on your family tree.”
A good friend and collaborator on The Black Toad Tavern, Robert Griffin, told me this recently and he’s right. He went on to say…
“Don’t underestimate that lovely old couple you call Grammy and Grandpa. We all know that their houses have that “old people smell” [...]
Backing Up Is Your Best Defense
I had a friend, let’s call him Leo, who was writing what he considered his masterpiece. Now Leo had been working on his novel for months. He’d get up early in the morning, fire up his laptop, and allow his creative, caffeine-induced juices to flow. He was almost done when one morning everything changed. It [...]
