In my last blog post, I talked about resolutions and goals. Today, I want to focus on another critical part of goal-setting: defining success. We all want to succeed, but how can you hit a target you haven’t created? How will you know when you’re successful? Sometimes knowing where you stand is simple… in school, … Continue reading Defining Success
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Hello, 2017!
Happy New Year, fellow readers and writers! There's something about a fresh start that appeals to all of us, especially this time of year. We're all too aware of our mistakes, shortcomings, and failures. We've had more than our fair share of tough circumstances that we'd rather forget about. Thankfully, by God's grace, that old … Continue reading Hello, 2017!
Plot vs. Premise
Hello, fellow readers and writers! It's amazing how time slips away so quickly during the holidays. But today I've managed to snag a few minutes to talk about a Fiction Writing 101 topic - plot versus premise. Every story starts with an idea. It could be a new twist on an old concept, or a … Continue reading Plot vs. Premise
Part III: “The Secrets at the End of the Universe”
I reach for the envelope marked “Love.” It’s not as thick as you might expect, maybe half an inch. It’s hard to get my trembling fingers to cooperate long enough to open the clasp. I pull out the entire stack of papers, delicately, not knowing how old they are or if they will crumble to … Continue reading Part III: “The Secrets at the End of the Universe”
Part II: “The Secrets at the End of the Universe”
The old man’s mouth tips into the faintest of smiles. “So be it.” I give him a fraction of a second to adjust his stance before I lunge forward, sword raised to strike. His return parry is lightning quick, much faster than I thought possible for one of his age. The clash of steel on … Continue reading Part II: “The Secrets at the End of the Universe”
“The Secrets at the End of the Universe”: Part I
At the end of the universe, on an obscure planet resembling a floating chunk of rock, there is a cave containing a long, underground passage. If you find this secret place, and follow the winding, twisting way through the rock past the requisite number of booby traps, you’ll find yourself on the threshold of a … Continue reading “The Secrets at the End of the Universe”: Part I
The Act of Creating
There are so many fabulous writers who freely share their wisdom about the craft online. One of my favorites is Holly Lisle, who offers a number of classes, free articles, and the occasional e-mail tip (https://hollylisle.com/). I found this one the other day when I was looking through one of my writing notebooks, copied down … Continue reading The Act of Creating
November Writing Opportunities
Hey, fellow writers! I know you're out there, even if you're trying to hide in the back corner of your closet hoping no one will notice. Well, there's nothing like a writing challenge to help give you a much-needed boost of confidence. First - and this one is just for Michigan residents (sorry, everyone else) … Continue reading November Writing Opportunities
The Brothers K
Okay, so I'm supposed to be reading "The Brothers Karamazov" by Fyodor Dostoevsky along with some other homeschool moms I know (yes, you already knew we're gluttons for punishment; I can also conjugate "amo" in six tenses in Latin, in case anybody's interested). I have to make it through Part One by late November, and … Continue reading The Brothers K
The Terror of the Blank Page
There's always something terrifying for me about a blank page, especially one with a black cursor just sitting there, blinking impatiently at me as I struggle to come up with the right words. It doesn't seem to matter whether I'm starting a 400-page novel or a 200-word blog post - the feeling is the same. … Continue reading The Terror of the Blank Page
Kellie Michelle Parker 