We all have a tendency to repeat words and phrases when we’re writing, especially in longer works. One of the tricks to get around this is to write your first draft and then use the thesaurus to correct the problem. Sometimes this solution helps– sometimes it simply changes the problem. I’m in the edit phase […]
Read More Before you use that thesaurus…A lot of people talk about having a hook, or if we are going for a fishing metaphor lure, that catches the reader’s attention long enough to hook them and draw them in… but there’s a lot more to it than that. The first line in any story tends to set the tone. It clues […]
Read More Musings on the importance of the first lineThe answer, in my not so humble opinion, is yes… and no. Rhythm is in everything we do. It is the tick of the clock, the movement of the pendulum, the very beat of our hearts is rhythmic. Rhythm can be as simple or as complex as we want it to be, but it is […]
Read More Poetry Part 2: Is there poetry without rhythm?Today’s prompt at FlashFriday was particularly uninspiring for me, I did have a beginning line, but I had no idea what to do with it. This time, rather than take you through the revision process in detail, I’m going to present the two versions of the story I wrote. The prompt: Did I pick the […]
Read More FlashFriday: Re-imaging a storyThe predictability of being unpredictable. As I’ve stated earlier, I’ve been writing for flash fiction contests for over a year now, and although almost all the judges judge ‘blind’ (they collect the stories without the author’s information) they almost always know its me. “Why?” you ask. The easiest answer is: my voice. My voice is […]
Read More Musing on voice, its advantages and disadvantagesIt’s hard to believe that it’s been almost a year since I started entering flash fiction competitions but I’ve learned a lot in that year: the most important lesson I think is to trust your instincts and don’t get too hung up on the judging: focus on the story. Sure, winning is great (and addictive) […]
Read More Flash Fiction – a Matter of OpinionA lot of writing workshops and classes will talk about style and voice. These are the spices that flavor your writing and make them yours. Finding your voice as a writer is very important: it helps you establish a rapport with your reader and gives them a connection that will, hopefully, draw them into your […]
Read More A few thoughts on voice and cover letters.