The tide of National Novel Writing Month is upon us. Are you getting into storytelling ship and setting out on the turbulent sea? Or are you staying on shore, watching other mad sailors disappear over the horizon, sink under the waves? Perhaps the metaphor is wrong, but it went with my gold ocean up there. …
Ages ago I bought Scrivener. It looked cool with all its tabs and features, but I could never motivate myself to use. Opening a Word doc was easier. But my work-in-progress, The Fairy Tale Asylum, has finally motivated me to make the most of what I paid for. The motivating factor being choreography. The Asylum …
I don't remember the interview, but I do remember an interviewer in which JK Rowling said how it surprised her that not everyone wanted to be a writer. And sure, I understand that we all want to do different things and that is a good thing. We need firefighters and teachers and all those other …
JK Rowling explained how Harry Potter appeared in her mind while she was on a train. Toni Morrison came up with the idea for Beloved after she read a newspaper article about a former slave murdering her child. J.R.R. Apparently, Tolkien imagined a hobbit while he was grading student exams (which gives me hope every …
To Kill a Mockingbird was never my favorite book. I liked the book. I liked it a lot. And I loved Gregory Peck in the movie. He was perfect. But I never considered naming any child of mine Atticus or Scout. They're great names and more power to you if you picked either of them …
Continue reading Maybe Some Stories Are Too Revered for Their Own Good
I need a lot of naps. I love naps. Life is better with a nap. I've been writing for Story-a-Day May. I'm posting what I've written on my other blog, The Fairy Tale Asylum. And every time I go to take a nap or even just to go to bed, I think, I should be …
Continue reading Writing, writing, writing, with life thrown in there somewhere…
One lesson I've taken from Rowling (and she's not the only author to do this) is to write the ending of the series first. Well, actually, I already had the ending written. I've rewritten it with a few new ideas in mind. Now I have something to work towards. Although what I have in mind …
Many things inspire me. As you know, the Internet contains a vast amount of creativity. Every day I see beautiful things, lovely films, charming images, quirky poems, and on and on. Yes, I realize it harbors many horrors, but that's not where I wish to spend my time. Anyway, I see talented people everywhere. Not …
Just putting this out into the world... over at Words are Art and Lake Belle I've got a deal on stories and art for the holidays. Yes, I know it is a wee bit early to think about holidays, but if you want something handmade, sooner is better. Even if the notion doesn't appeal to …
The scientists took two groups of children and told the parents that the children would go to a party. At the party the children would eat candy and cake. This was not true. One group of children did go to a party with cake and cake. The other group of children, however, ate vegetables, crackers, …
Marta Pelrine-Bacon 