“A closed mind is a dying mind.”~Edna Ferber American novelist, short story writer and playwright Edna Ferber was born on this day in 1885.
Blog
DIY MFA: Growing Your Character
If you read much, you already know novels are not limited to a single plot thread. A lot of books I’ve read have a main plot, at least one subplot, and a character arc. Your main plot is the scaffold on which you build the story and measure progress. Character arcs and sub-plots add depth … Continue reading DIY MFA: Growing Your Character
Random Quote for August 13, 2020
“I would like to see every woman know how to handle guns as naturally as they know how to handle babies.”~Annie Oakley American sharpshooter Annie Oakley was born on this day in 1860.
Wednesday Word for August 12, 2020
Today’s word comes from First Reader. Follow me on Facebook: @jjshaunauthor. Today’s Word Part of Speech adjective Definition That which cannot be removed, washed away, or erased.Making marks that cannot easily be removed.That which cannot be eliminated, forgotten, changed, or the like. History First used in the 15th century, this word comes from the Middle … Continue reading Wednesday Word for August 12, 2020
Trivia: Lizzie Borden Arrested for Murder
On this day in 1892, Lizzie Borden of Fall River, Massachusetts, is arrested for the brutal murder of her father and stepmother. While a Grand Jury later heard evidence and indicted her for the murders. Conflicting testimony and mostly circumstantial evidence led to her acquittal in June of 1893. Lizzie Borden took an axeAnd gave … Continue reading Trivia: Lizzie Borden Arrested for Murder
Random Quote for August 10, 2020
“I think people respond to dystopian stories because they're ways of acting out anxieties that we have and fears that we have about the future. So much media's coming at you over the Internet, your brain gets overloaded. You don't know what to do with it. And one thing you can do with it is … Continue reading Random Quote for August 10, 2020
Chapter 1: Clues
Katra Alterian had been trying to call her cousin, Elayna, since yesterday, to no avail. It was not like Ela to ignore her calls. So, she drove to Ela's house to talk to her cousin. Katra ran into Talbot on her way to Ela's room. "Have you seen Ela or Eli?" she asked Talbot, the … Continue reading Chapter 1: Clues
Random Quote for August 8, 2020
“I make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes.”~Sara Teasdale American lyric poet Sara Teasdale was born on this day in 1884.
DIY MFA: Picking a Path
A story is a plot, a character, and a setting glued together by conflict. Some writers can fully outline their book before they write a single word of their novel. Other writers begin with a concept and a character, then watch the characters as they move from point A to point Z. Still, others combine … Continue reading DIY MFA: Picking a Path
Random Quote for August 6, 2020
“Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.”~Lucille Ball American actress, comedienne, model and studio executive and producer Lucille Ball was born on this day in 1911.
J.J. Shaun 