Tag: writing
-
Why do you write? For the market or yourself?
This is a great column on that topic. Although it was written about screenplays, I believe it applies for most any writing. Everything They Didn’t Teach You About Working in Entertainment: WHY
-
Be Frankenstein. Grow your characters
When starting a new story and working on characters to populate it, I sometimes think of Frankenstein. Yes, Frankenstein. That’s because as a writer I have to grow and develop my characters. Not sew them together out of a bunch of dead bodies, but develop creations with thoughts, dreams, fears, weaknesses and strengths. Quirks and…
-
My best writing advice: Read good books, watch good movies, TV, plays
You hear the advice a lot at writing conferences and in writing books. Read. Read. Read. As a lover of movies and writer of screenplays, to that advice I will add watch good movies, TV and plays. Why? Because you learn so damn much about everything. Pacing. Voice. Conflict. Dialogue. Description. Character. In other words,…
-
How writing helped after losing my mother
Writing helped save me. My mom died at the end of July at the age of 88. She was strong and funny, and lived for her family. She took care of everybody, even volunteering to help low-income people for more than a decade after her retirement and her own personal losses. I not only loved…
-
The craziness of getting it right
I have neared the mouth of madness. I have sat on the tongue of crazy. And it’s all because I’m working on getting it right. Taking those extra steps to make sure my writing is the best it can be to quote the Army slogan. This work entails printing out the manuscript, not once, but…
-
Dealing with that old devil –writers envy
I am a short Latina writer, but when I get in the grip of that old devil envy I wish I was a tall blonde–a tall blonde named J.K. Rowling. Those are the days I long to be someone with a New York Times Bestseller or with a novel optioned for a movie to be…
-
New Year’s resolutions be damned. Get to writing
It is 2013. A New Year for most of us who aren’t time travelers. This is the time that we’re all making plans and dreams, resolutions and promises to ourselves on what we hope to accomplish in the new year. Lose weight. Quit smoking. Drink less. Laugh more. Beat that addiction to reality shows. I…
-
What makes a story great? Watch ‘Winchester ’73’
It is no secret I am an uber movie fan. But aside from watching movies for pure entertainment, as a writer I also pay attention to what makes a movie great, particularly the story. Recently, I again watched one of my favs, “Winchester ’73″on TV and again remarked to my husband, “This is one great…
-
Postpartum Writing Blues: The let down when you finish a novel
I finished writing a novel recently and it felt like my kid left home and went to college and didn’t write or call. This is not the first time I’ve had that experience. Whenever I complete such a project, be it novel or screenplay, there is a let down. I’ll call it the Postpartum Writing…
-
Finishing a manuscript and chicken tacos
Nothing is as good as finishing a book, well maybe, chicken tacos. Within a week or so, I will be ready to pitch my new manuscript, a steampunk mystery. After all the typing, sore back and hands, research, and doubts, it will be complete. After all the searching for the right word and emotion. Making…