Short fiction is an art form. As with any story, it must have a beginning, a middle, and an end. It must make sense and be complete. Most short stories fall in the 1,000- to 4,000-word range, although Writer’s Digest defines short stories as 1,500 to 30,000 words. Stories written using fewer than 1,000 words … Continue reading Writing Short Fiction
#AmWriting
I’m A Writer, Now What?
I’ve spent the last several years preparing myself for retirement. After all, I’m not getting any younger, and I watched too many senior citizens struggle on a fixed income. I realized that I have skills I can use after the high-tech world was finished with me—or I was finished with it. And now that the … Continue reading I’m A Writer, Now What?
Character Creation II
Exciting characters make the most compelling stories—at least in my reading experiences. Maybe that's why my stories almost always begin with a character rather than a plot. Well, except one and I'm working on that. One of my first characters, Meegan Redoak, is still rattling around in my head. She and her friend, Skrie, are … Continue reading Character Creation II
What’s in a (Character) Name?
As writers, we spend an excessive amount of time coming up with names for our characters. Sometimes, for me at least, the character proudly announces who they are—name, history, the whole shebang. Some characters are a bit more stubborn and hoard that information like gold. My character Meegan Redoak has been with me for so … Continue reading What’s in a (Character) Name?
Friday Features I
Welcome to Friday Features. What is it all about? To be honest, I haven’t totally decided yet. I thought about blogging my freelance journey as I start a new chapter of my life. I thought about talking about some of the freaky stuff that happens in life. I thought about a lot of things. So, … Continue reading Friday Features I
Ch-Ch-Changes
So, I’m “retired.” What does that mean exactly? For one, it means that I have a whole lot more time on my hands. The trick will be to figure out how to fill that time in a meaningful manner. My brain is all atwitter with ways I could fill said time, but I tend to … Continue reading Ch-Ch-Changes
Tawanda!
(C) 2018 JJ ShaunOn the road to retirement. Two weeks ago, my supervisor informed me that the Visible Means of Support™ has eliminated my position. As of today, I am retired—that's my term, not theirs. I've known for some time that this "action" was coming, so First Reader and I took steps to soften the … Continue reading Tawanda!
Worldbuilding, Part IV
Worldbuilding is part of any fictional story. “But wait a minute,” you say. “What about contemporary stories? You know, those set in the world of today?” Think about any fiction you have ever read. Even those that are as realistic and set in today’s world as anything out there. It’s not just fantasy or sci-fi … Continue reading Worldbuilding, Part IV
Life and Loss
2019 JJ ShaunJoe Yesterday, our family held a memorial service for a man who was as much kin as one could be and not be born into the clan. Joe dropped into our lives almost twenty-five years ago. He had just been released prison and volunteered to help his brother build an extra room into … Continue reading Life and Loss
Summer’s End
(C) 2019 JJ ShaunEnd of summer cooking. And just like that, it’s Labor Day, the “unofficial end of summer.” So, aside from it being a federal holiday and long weekend, what is Labor Day all about? In the beginning, labor unions brought about the end of tyranny by employers who used and abused their workers. … Continue reading Summer’s End
J.J. Shaun 