Pacing: it’s one of the most challenging things in a story. On the one hand, you have to keep the story moving along to keep the reader interested. At the same time, you have to slow things down periodically to give the reader a chance to absorb what they’ve read, and maybe summarize things a […]
Why I Write Books and Not Screenplays
I’m a movie buff. Case in point: Part of the title of this blog reads “filmophile”. I have always loved the movies. Silent, color, black and white, action, chick flicks, dramas, documentaries, comedies – I love movies of all kinds. Yet, as a writer, I prefer prose to scriptwriting. I always envision my characters and […]
Mastering (or Failing to Master) the Transition
I’ve been working on my edit-in-progress for a few weeks now, and it’s been a blast getting back into a story that I haven’t touched in a couple years. It’s also been kind of a nice change after focusing on writing for about 4 months straight. So far, it’s been going pretty well. I’m just […]
My Research Method – Don’t Judge Me
Some of the main places I seek inspiration and do “research” for my stories is from other books, films, and television shows who have covered similar topics to what I am writing about. With my current edit-in-progress, one of my main sources of inspiration was the HBO show Entourage, as well as any other shows […]
Week 4 NaNoWrimo Update and More: It’s Going to Be a Long Winter
If you know your movies, you know that one’s from American Outlaws, starring a few of my favs, Colin Farrell (In Bruges), Gabriel Macht (USA’s Suits), and Scott Caan (CBS’s Hawaii Five-0). The quote itself, however, is actually Timothy Dalton’s in the film. In any case, I am busy, busy, busy, though that’s pretty much […]
The NaNo Variable
It’s that time of year. No, not autumn. Not Halloween. Not the holidays. No, the time of year when I will once again be participating in National Novel Writing Month, aka NaNoWriMo. It’s going to be a tough year with all the balls I have in the air right now. For one, I am currently […]
Grammar Pet Peeves and Exceptions to the Rules
When it comes to grammar, I’m not quite as nit-picky as I am about spelling. Homonyms: it’s important to get those straight. Syntax is important because it can change the meaning of the sentence if the words are out of order. But I will end a sentence with a preposition. I will use “who” instead […]
Work in Progress: How Writing Can Take Over Your Life
From what I’ve experienced and what I hear from other writers, writing is not always a choice–sometimes it’s a compulsion. Sometimes, the muse doesn’t just descend–sometimes she comes down and throws a tantrum until you do what she says. For me, writing is addictive. (Hence the reason I have so many blogs! Running tally: 4 […]