This Memorial Day I want to take a moment to reflect on those who served our country and paid the ultimate price. Fathers, brothers, uncles, neighbors, and friends laid down their lives a generation ago in World War II and for generations before them dating back to the American Revolution. Women have joined the ranks of the fallen in the Global War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, and Syria. We honor all those who served. What prompts a civilian to place themselves in danger, to stand for their country against an armed adversary? As one who has never served in a military context I can only speculate. Democratic Ideals…
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Backstory and Info Dumps
What are backstory and info dumps? Backstory is everything that happens to set your character up to tell their story. Info dumps, on the other hand, are a writer’s attempt to tell the backstory in large chunks of print on the page. Backstory Before you begin to put words on the page, you have a vision of your character and their circumstances. How many brothers and sisters? Do they live in a city or the country? What are their secret desires? Their fears? What is it about their past that drives them toward their future? These are all elements that make up their backstory. As a writer you may want…
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The Power of Story
Stories bind us together. The best stories, whether real or imagined have a vulnerable character exercising extraordinary courage. Here is my friend’s latest: The other day some ants came into the house. But I didn’t mind because they are the only visitors I’ve had in weeks! What makes this story so memorable is the universal connection we feel during this pandemic. From this two-sentence story we learn my friend is a very social person and that the restrictions placed on us during the pandemic have made her lonely. Vulnerability and courage are definitely on display here! You have to know that my friend takes great pride in her house and…
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Celebrate Poetry Month
Writers celebrate poetry month every April. In poetry, ordinary things become extraordinary because the reader feels a connection to the words on the page. We’re all searching for connection amid forced stay at home orders and pandemic quarantines. Thank goodness for FaceTime, Zoom, and all those other platforms that allow us to keep in touch with loved ones and others in our community. Writing Poetry Soothes the Soul Writing poetry gives us time to reflect, to take stock. To examine our emotions. Whether you’re shooting for humor or poignancy, consider free verse, sonnet, and rhyme to get you there. Here is an exercise to close out poetry month. Listen, really…
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Motion, Emotion, Motivation
Motion, emotion, and motivation will keep your story moving. It’s no coincidence these three words share the Latin root for move. Whether you’re writing fiction, biography, or an informational article, be sure to include each of these. Let’s look at how each one enriches your story. Motion Plot is the motion in your story. It moves the story forward and compels your reader to keep turning the pages. What will happen next? Plot is the logical progression of events. It’s a series of cause and effect that leads the reader to an endpoint. The motion must be focused and directed toward the end goal to avoid aimless wandering, and risk…
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Disinfect Your Desk!
Why disinfect your desk? Covid-19, of course! Let’s recap CDC guidelines: wash your hands for twenty seconds in hot soapy water; Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth; Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash; Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. It’s this last one I want to bring to your attention today. Frequently Touched Objects Writers write. I hope you’re keeping your sanity during this Covid-19 craziness. We’ve all heard the recommendation to wash hands frequently. But think about all the things writers touch. The keyboard. Mouse. The stapler. Paper clips. Pens. Pencils. A stylus. Tablets, phones, remote controls.…
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How to Write a Thank You Note
We write thank you notes for gifts, exemplary service, and recognition. Most of us have dutifully written that thank you note or email to Aunt Nancy. Keep reading to find out what to include in your thank yous. Thank you Notes for Gifts What goes into a thoughtful thank you note? Always start with a greeting followed by naming the gift using a positive adjective and a specific detail which shows how you appreciate or how you will use the gift. Here are some examples: Dear Aunt Nancy, Thank you for the lovely flowers. They really brightened my day. Dear Aunt Nancy, Thank you for the birthday check. I will…
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Family Stories: Oral History to Written Record
Why write family stories? Family stories shape our impression of the world. Some cultures revere storytelling so much, they have designated storytellers–keepers of stories. The Icelanders have their Eddas, the Norse, their Sagas. In Western societies we have outsourced this position to TV and film makers. But there is something special about the cadence of words falling from the lips of someone who lived the tale. Listen No matter your age, ask your parents, your aunts, your uncles about their youth. If you are lucky enough to still have grandparents ask them to tell you their stories too. Someone said ‘every time an elder dies, a library burns down.’ In…
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Spelling is not a sign of Intelligence
While spelling is not a sign of intelligence, poor spelling can make a bad first impression. Some sounds like sh have multiple spellings. In today’s post I’ll review spelling rules for the sh sound. SH Here are the rules for using s-h to write the sh sound. Use s-h at the beginning of a word or at the end of a syllable. That’s it. Here are some examples: shadow, sheep, shingle, shop, shutter, trashcan, mesh, fishnet, slosh, gush. So, what do you do when the sound comes at the beginning of a syllable in the middle of a word? English is a very creative language with its twenty-six letters. One…
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Hard and Soft Sounds
As a kid I knew the letters ‘c’ and ‘g’ had hard and soft sounds. I just didn’t know there was a rule that would help me. My go-to word was garage. The first ‘g’ was followed by the letter ‘a’ and had a hard sound. The last ‘g’ was followed by an ‘e’ and had a soft sound. Today’s post will discuss spelling and pronunciation rules to help you pronounce new words and spell old ones. Hard C and G The most common sound for the letter ‘c’ is the hard sound. Cat, cost, cut, cry, Christmas, and clip all start with the hard ‘c’ sound. Maniac, titanic, and…
