As the fiction editor for Eclectica Magazine, it’s been both a privilege and pleasure to read story submissions. Finding the handful of pieces that take my breath away is what it’s all about. The good ones shine through, those that are brilliant positively sparkle. That said, it’s too bad that so many stories that come my…
Tag: writing
Liza's Tree
Inspiration for writing is often memory. As a girl I attended Camp James Weldon Johnson in Raccoon State Park in Pennsylvania. One of my fondest memories is the long nightly walk to Liza’s Tree. Once there, we sat around a blazing campfire while one of the best storytellers in the world told us about Liza,…
Strong Women
Strong Women Strong women play a large part in my historical fiction. I am lucky to have supreme role models in my ancestors and in the women that share my world. They are giants of will and perseverance. They guide me as I create my fiction’s characters. My great-great-great-great grandmother, Rhoda, became a widow in…
The Nine Commandments of Indie Writing
As a published Indie Writer, I attest to the hard work it takes to complete a manuscript. Family and friends’ “this is good” critiques do not good writers make, neither does moaning about the absence of the muse, or other responsibilities that may take writers away from writing. The successful Indie Writer: sets and respects stated/written goals…
When The Line Becomes A Circle - A Writer's Story
In my own personal writing experience, the path began like this: I sat down one day and decided to write a story. It didn’t come easily. I struggled and flailed around, trying to find the right words, the right moments, the right shades of meaning. It’s tempting to think of one’s career path as…
A Writing Retreat: More Than A Creative Writing Tune-Up
A few weeks ago, I had the equivalent of a writer’s meltdown until I made two conclusions, one of which involved meeting a certain person by the name Lise Weil. (You can read about it here). After talking to her and learning about the writing retreat that she runs a few times a year, I decided…
Old Photographs and Memoir
By Lee Martin of http://leemartinauthor.com I remember on New Year’s Eve, when I was a boy, my father’s side of the family would gather for a supper of oyster soup and games of cards—usually either Pitch or Rook. This was in a day when we didn’t have cell phones that took pictures, when we didn’t…
Organizing the Memoir
By Lee Martin of http://leemartinauthor.com Were you feeling a little disorganized around the holidays? Imagine the way writers of memoirs must feel when faced with the task of giving shape and structure to the experiences that they’re trying to render on the page. I’ve had a request to talk about such things, so here goes. When writing…
Stuck? Try Writing Poetry
It’s been a while since I’ve posted any new writing. There is a reason for that: busy, busy, busy relaunching my first book under my own name, busy revising the sequel so it might be ready in the new year, and well, Life keeps happening. And another thing: being in this writing group of mine has really…
Novel Writing: Enrichment of Real Research
By Mark Fine of http://finewrites.blogspot.com/p/main-page.html In writing and researching my historical novel The Zebra Affaire, I had the privilege of viewing many wild creatures in their natural habitats. Being in the bush, tracking game (with camera, and not firearm) is not a bookish, academic pursuit. The composite of the senses are vital to telling your story: the wretched…
Characterization and the Car Crash
By Ken Elkes of http://kenelkes.wordpress.com Some musings on writing. Let’s start with three examples: 1. I was in a road traffic accident the other day. I didn’t suffer any injuries, though my car may not be repairable. Unfortunately it was my birthday. 2. I had an interesting birthday. Got into a car crash on the motorway. Not a scratch on me…
A Few Choice Words
By David Kent of http://writerinthemountains.blogspot.com What’s the difference between ordinary writing and extraordinary literature? Word choice. That is not some editorial decree to run out and buy a new thesaurus (although if you don’t own J. I. Rodale’s Synonym Finder, you should go get it), there is a lot more to word choice than a…