Monthly Archives: January 2021

Plot vs. Character? (Encore)

For as long as I can remember, people in the writing community have debated the issue of plot versus character — which should drive a story? One side of the argument claims a complex plot will generate enough conflict to … Continue reading

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Land of the Midday Moon (Encore)

Wait. “Midday moon?“ Yep. It remains the land of the midnight sun, but I like this alternative story much better, especially since I experienced it with my bride, my brother and sister, plus two in-laws. A little background: It seems there’s … Continue reading

Posted in Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

I’ll have a “MAC memoir” (Encore)

Okay, it’s not what you’re thinking. I’m not talking about a manuscript and some rabbit food on a sesame seed bun. What I’m referring to are the basic building blocks of any good story, whether it’s fiction or non-fiction. The acronym for this magic formula … Continue reading

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Why you need “good” bad guys. (Encore)

If you don’t take your bad guys seriously, how can you expect your readers to feel any differently? We’re talking about villains here, and for most adult fiction, two-dimensional bad guys like Snidely Whiplash rate no better than what they … Continue reading

Posted in Historical writing, novel writing, short fiction, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Editing Apps Can Make Our Stuff Perfect!

Bullsh Uh, make that, “No.” For proof, look no further than the “auto-correct” option on your (alleged) smartphone, a function that’s generated more embarrassment than all the unintended pregnancies on record. I’ll admit, technology can improve our work. Word processors alone easily … Continue reading

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