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September: Time to Get on Track
After the lazy days of summer, Fall is always a great time to set new goals and new routines.
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Place As Inspiration
I have always found settings to be great sources of inspiration. The sweeping sense of peace exuded by the weeping willows in the Annapolis Valley inspired me to write about the tragic story buried at their roots. The historic house in Edmonton’s historic Strathcona neighbourhood, provided the perfect setting for a time-travel set in Edmonton in 1929, and getting to spend over a month living in a historic home in the upscale neighbourhood of The Glebe was the inspiration for a contemporary teen novel. If one is observant, there is always a story to be found, always a story happening somewhere around us as we are travelling through a place,…
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The Spark: Where the Fun Begins
Whisky turned out to be just that spark, which, I have to say came as a huge surprise for me. In fact, I would say it is proof that the Muse has a sense of humour. I was looking for a famous person, and discovered that a famous whisky, not a person at all, was the missing piece.
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The Shiny New Thing
I am inviting you along on my journey through the process of writing a novel, from the daily routines, to the spark of an idea, all the way through to THE END. Hold on to your seat. It will be a bumpy ride. But I hope you find some tips and tricks along the way to help you with your journey.
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Writing: It’s Complicated
Each September, I write a New Year post, because for me, the back -to-school schedule feels most like the start of a new year. Teaching for over 30 years will do that for you. This year, however, the landscape looks vastly different to everyone, school or no school, and I’m finding it hard to get motivated. It doesn’t feel like the usual fresh beginning of September. It feels like dragging my feet through yet another day of uncertainty. One bit of advice that has come in handy from time to time is fake it ‘till you make it, and perhaps this is one of those times. So, even though my…
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What Good Authors Do
Below are some tips I’ve collected over the years about what good writers do. There is nothing wrong with modelling your practice after the writers who have met with great success. Here are some timeless quotes from a few of the greats. Good writers respect the reader. Lack of courtesy may be the chief fault that distinguishes unsuccessful writing from the most successful…The reader of fiction is primarily seeking an experience different from and greater than his or her daily experiences in life. How to Grow a Novel—Sol Stein Good writers do not simply describe a barn. Good writers describe a barn as seen by someone in a particular mood, because only…
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Compelling Characters
You take people, you put them on a journey, you give them a peril, you find out who they really are. Joss Whedon Characters are why people love stories, and it is why they will read your novel. Yes, some readers prefer fast paced, action-packed adventures to the more internal struggles of a character driven story. But if the main character does not capture your interest, you will not care what happens to her. If readers don’t care, they lose interest. They stop reading, Even if your characters are cats, as is the case in Erin Hunter’s Warrior series, they have personalities, strengths, backgrounds and feelings. Good characters will make…
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Writing inspiration for May 12, 2020
Make a habit of putting your observations into words and gradually this will become instinct.
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How Do You Know If A Story Idea Has Potential?
People often ask,"Where do you get your ideas?" As Neil Gaiman says, the ideas aren't the hard bit. IDEAS ARE EVERYWHERE but...How do you capture that idea?
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READING your way out
Facing the blank page is one thing, but sometimes the complications of life steal your emotional energy. Despite all of the best techniques for getting words on the page, if your emotions are sucked dry, working longer and harder is not the answer. Sometimes your emotions are knotted up in a major life event, and while this may provide material for writing down the road, at the moment you have nothing left to give. In times of deep emotional exhaustion, I pour out my thoughts in a private journal, but I find it impossible to focus on my fiction. Reading, however, is something I can do. At the moment, I…