Valentine’s Day is loved by everyone but especially by retailers. Vast amounts of money are spent on gifts such as roses, wine, chocolates, perfume, etc. by men and women looking for that special gift for their significant other. When you first hear Valentine’s Day mentioned, what is the first thing that pops into your head? Perhaps you…
On February 2, will Punxsutawney Phil predict that winter will continue for six more weeks? Will the marmot in Alaska predict an end to winter is near? Will the hedgehog see his shadow underneath a clear moon? Candlemas, the last holiday of the Christmas season, is the midpoint between winter and spring. It is also the festival…
Writers need to show instead of tell. What exactly does that mean? How does one show what is happening instead of just telling? What are the benefits of doing so? Telling is easy. The room was bare. You need to show the reader that the room is bare instead of just stating it. Showing takes…
The ocean is home to many beautiful and amazing creatures. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to swim beneath its tranquil waters and gaze at them up close? But just as the ocean’s waters are not forever tranquil, neither are its inhabitants always the kind you want to be near. They may be spectacular to look at,…
Are you going to celebrate First Foot Day on New Year’s Day? What kind of dragon will you give life to on Appreciate a Dragon Day? Will you write a story while taking a bubble bath on Bubble Bath Day? What kind of hat will you wear on National Hat Day? How many times will…
Did you realize that fiction plays a big part in many of our Christmas traditions? No, I’m not talking about the birth of our Lord and Savior. His birth is not fictional, but many of the things now believed about that special event are; they have been set in place by poetry, books, movies, songs, etc. This is evidence of the effects that fiction writing can have on the world.
Do you have any friends or loved ones who are writers? Are you having problems deciding what to get them for their birthdays or Christmas? First, we will talk about the normal but functional gifts you can bless them with. Books on writing, a dictionary, or a thesaurus is always appreciated, and writers can never…
Phobias are constant, irrational fears that afflict some people. Their fears should be taken seriously. They should never be made fun of or belittled. But, as writers, we can bless (or curse) our characters with phobias and make the story so much more interesting. What happens if someone encounters the object of their fear? They…
Nursery rhymes are written for little children, so they should be sweet and innocent, right? Little children should not have experienced the horrors and reality of life yet, and these rhymes made to entertain them should not talk about them either. But not all nursery rhymes have innocent meanings. “Ring Around the Rosie” is one…
Have you ever thought about using a mental hospital in your story? The reasons people were admitted to these institutions suggest many different story ideas. The cruel and inhuman way many of them were treated can also fill one’s head full of ideas about the patients, those who “cared” for them, and those who had…
