Background music for writers

Some of my writing friends listen to music for inspiration, mostly notably Lia Keyes who is working on her steampunk novel and listens to Phantom of the Opera. Seems like the perfect choice for what promises to be a deliciously, dark mystery. Normally I don’t listen to music while I write, but I’m intrigued by the idea of using my [...]

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So you want to be a writer…

Here’s what I’ve learned about writing in the last three years. When everyone else is: watching TV, I am probably writing. sleeping, I am usually writing and editing. on FaceBook, I’m…ooops…gotta get back to writing. blogging, I am writing, wishing I had more time to blog. shopping, I am revising a chapter. texting and tweeting, I am talking to my MC. eating, [...]

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When cats go searching for their identity…archetypes and the hero’s journey

I’ve been missing in action, but hardly inactive. When I first started writing, my research lead me to use the model of archetypes to develop my characters. Any intrepid Googler can find enough online info to understand this mythic structure. My delicious bookmarks attest to that and considering I knew nothing when I started out, [...]

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Character development: Daniel takes me on a tour

I wanted another interview with my main character, Daniel. (After five tries, he’s seems o.k. with this name.) So how do I get in contact with him again? The first time I interviewed him, I was chopping onions and I thought about him just being there in my kitchen, like a real person. This time [...]

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Late blooming writers

This post is for everyone over 50 who thinks it’s too late to take up writing. I didn’t take it seriously until I saw my 60th  looming on the horizon and I knew if I was going to do anything interesting with this part of my life, I’d better get busy. Fast. I jumped in [...]

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Interview with my Main Character

I’m taking Holly Lisle’s ‘Create a Character Clinic”. One technique she uses in getting to know your character is a personal interview. My main character is a 13 year old boy and I wondered if he might prove too difficult for me to get inside his head. However, my first book is written from the [...]

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Conversation with my muse: follow up

    Marco is the protagonist in my (yet to be published) children’s book, The Dead Cats’ Society.  He’s also a real cat. See photo at left.  Marco has another role in my life, being that of my muse. It’s a complex relationship, but it works. He’s the one I talk to when I need a [...]

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Character development

“Find out what your hero or heroine wants, and when he or she wakes up in the morning, just follow him or her all day.” Ray Bradbury

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