The Three R's

The Three R’s

Schools were already divided into grades and contained in brick building complexes by the time I got there, in spite of what my children and grandchildren will tell you, but the original one-room schoolhouse concentrated on simple education of the three R’s . Readin’, (w)ritin’, and (a)rithmetic. ‘Rithmetic wasn’t my fortè, yet I grew up and […]

FIX Your Writing

FIX Your Writing

Please enjoy this guest post from Noelle Stern… (see bio below) *** You’re writing along like butter. Suddenly a stomach-wrenching jolt slams you against a concrete wall. That harpy in your head rebukes: “THAT’S THE WORST, MOST HORRIBLE, STUPID PHRASE SINCE . . . .” Take heart. Such a message doesn’t have to plunge you […]

Trimming The Fat

Trimming The Fat

I’ve read several articles lately on how we writers get carried away and go off track. But it’s hard not to reveal the humanity of our characters and their families. It’s hard to not tell the history of the small town when we set our scenes. After all, every person or place is rich with […]

Give Yourself Permission

Give Yourself Permission

I was reading an article from Writers’ Digest the other day and one of the suggestions spoke to me. No. It yelled at me. Allow yourself to write badly. Wow. I needed that. You see, editing as I go is one of my greatest problems. While my friends can plow through a chapter in an hour, […]

Are We Dis-connected?

Are We Dis-connected?

Do we have, as The Captain in Cool Hand Luke called it, a failure to communicate? That’s a funny question for a writer to ask, but recent events have caused me to consider it. Communication is more than just delivering a message. It’s interaction with others. Remember that invention called the telephone? Dictionary.com defines it […]