We've all done it: we see a book advertised and decide to read the reviews. Smart thing to do really. Books are expensive, especially if you are a prolific reader. Even eBooks add up if you read a lot. Now I'm also pretty sure that most of you also consult more than one review: although... Continue Reading →
Right - changed my mind again about chapter names. So much of the beginning of the novel happens in January 1883. But it looks really stupid calling four chapters 'Chapter whatever - January 1883'. So, after all that, I've gone back to simply Chapter One, Chapter Two etc. And of course, now that I have... Continue Reading →
When I was trying to decide if I could, in fact, write 50,000 words in stories for the medieval period, I went Google searching to see just what that looked like. In the process, I came across a great article outlining some reasons why you might be best to keep your novel to 80,000 words... Continue Reading →
Thought I'd share this awesome little short story from Cari Jehlik. Cari asked in our writers group for someone to give her a topic for a short story - so I did! And it's a great story - and those of us who write will completely relate to it! Just follow the link at the... Continue Reading →
Those of us in the Heart of a Child workshop entered our final week of critiquing on Monday. And it is huge. Not only are we looking at grammar, filler words, exposition, climax and denouement - we are conscious that we are the last critique before works are finally submitted and passed over to the judges! Each story as two readers, so... Continue Reading →
This week in the Heart of a Child anthology workshop we are looking at theme and setting. Basically, if you want your reader to immerse themselves in your story, your have to put them in it! Theme and Setting are important but often neglected elements of a good story. Pinching another Cayce Berryman post here: why... Continue Reading →
We are up to Week Two in the workshop for Heart of a Child and are looking at characters. I could explain it here - but I will leave it to the expert Cayce Berryman again: Main Characters by Cayce Berryman Cheers Kerry
Those of you who are following me on this know that I had decided to use both Thomas Armstrongs in my story. But I have tried - and I just cannot get interested in the war history! I'm a social historian and I just can't bring myself to read one more thing about who was... Continue Reading →
Writing is a solitary activity, right? Well - it is. But that doesn't mean that you have to do it in cultural isolation ..... I have tried a couple of different groups that actually meet to discuss writing etc. but they haven't really suited me. I wish they had and I will continue to keep... Continue Reading →
