The Snips (aka free-flow writing/stream of conscious writing) I started writing snips set in my novel world a few years back. Every main story player received a snip â a piece of free-flow writing written in the first person. My… Read More ›
Writing
Writer’s Block: Character Playlists
Somehow, I landed on another writing hiatus. Thanks life, much appreciated. The clouds of life eventually cleared and the will to be creative returned. However, The Muse did not. She didnât get the memo. Revisiting the story world… cold. Re-reading… Read More ›
Hyphens, En Dash, Em Dash â Oh My!
Hyphen, en dash and em dash â oh my! I mentioned these to my writing group over the weekend and was surprised no one was the full bottle. I shouldnât have been surprised because I only investigated dashes a couple… Read More ›
Writer Collaborations: The Tears, The Joy
Lately, opportunities to work as a writer on collaborative stories have popped up. My initial reaction was hesitant. Iâve worked as a screenwriter and have seen my scripts come to life. An amazing opportunity, no argument. Some projects were a… Read More ›
Story Basics 101: Show Don’t Tell
The golden writing rule âshow, donât tellâ is etched in every writerâs mind, and if youâre new to the wonderful world of writing, it will become ingrained. Pretty much all of us start out writing as âtellingâ stories rather than… Read More ›
When to Recast Your Characters
The Silent Character The muse has thrown an awesome plot your way. You both get excited. The plot dictates the character. Like people, their life experiences (aka the plot) shape their personalities. However, every so often a character doesnât âspeakâ… Read More ›
How to Name Characters
Naming characters can be a breeze or it can make you want to rip your hair out. The perfect name may come naturally, or itâs something to work on. A name can make or break a character and maybe even… Read More ›
Pen Names: Yay or Nay?
The dilemma “to pen name or not” drove me mad for years. Names are a part of our identity. Choosing a pen name is a serious business, literally. As writers, our names are marketed and, dare I say with the… Read More ›
Story Basics 101: Passive Writing vs Active Writing
Introduction Often I read stories written by aspiring writers â the plot is great, characters are relatable, the message is powerful⌠but the narration is weak. Passive writing strikes again. The notion of active writing vs passive writing is a… Read More ›
Writing, Grief, and Mourning, as Writers
Background I loved Pete, and he loved me. A year ago to the day, my writing and life mentor passed away unexpectedly. For a decade, we ran local writing groups together, celebrated socially, shared our personal thoughts, and drank… Read More ›
THE WRITING ASYLUM 