Category: Writing and Reading
-
Snow White: the Movie: the disaster for Disney (or why Rachel Zegler is dead wrong)
II’m not much of a movie-goer. Never was, as I prefer to read (and I also like to take a break, get something to drink or visit my favorite personal restroom). However, after all the discussion about Snow White, the revised version, I have an opinion and want to know the opinions of others who…
-
A Dark Comedy Interview Series Begins with … Rachel Callaghan
Rachel Callaghan isn’t one of those writers who’s driven by the laugh track. I suspect she’s one of those more literary types who just happens to be funny. Her books aren’t categorized as humor, even though I often found myself laughing out loud. She also isn’t setting out to write something dark, it’s just that…
-
It’s Here! The Dark Humor Books Interview Series Is Destined to Delight
I was talking with Rachel one day about serious funny books. I don’t mean seriously funny, I mean humorous but also not afraid to go there. Books that touch on the painful realities of life tend to be dramas, while books that are funny tend to steer clear of topics like miscarraige, suicide, body dysmorphia,…
-
The Benefits of Being a Beta Reader
Have you ever considered being a beta reader? Why or why not? Let me tempt you…
-
Beta Readers are Critical to Author Success
Writers often ask about the need for beta readers and how to get them. Here’s my take…
-
What Little Gripes have you Found while Reading a Great Book?
Though I’m loving the new novel by Elizabeth Stout, this one little glitch keeps grabbing my attention while reading… Do you have any gripes with a great book?
-
My Readers Are Smarter Than I Am
You’d think that, when I sat at down with an open laptop, I knew what I was writing about, wouldn’t you? Nope, not true. It took a long time—and many comments by readers—for me to understand the point of my own writing. I don’t mean the characters—those came to life in the file with little…
-
Talking about Writing Novels on Online for Authors Podcast
On Teri M Brown’s Online for Authors podcast, we talk about buying a pre-revolutionary house sight unseen, pantsing versus plotting, writing endings, and beta readers who don’t pull any punches. Teri M. Brown asks me about my favorite character… that everyone seems to hate. I especially enjoyed discussing historical fiction and the difficulties of fathoming…
-
The perils of writing parody (even more fictional than reality TV!)
I received an email from a friend. Partly due to cutbacks, she’s retiring as a professor of English literature at a midwestern university. My response was to say, “Oh, no! My God, more than ever, the world needs people teaching how to read and critically evaluate literature,” Her email came shortly after the first negative…
-
Renovations
One good thing about being a doctor was no need for self-motivation. The impetus of time being critical helped, too, that someone needed me, often immediately. That didn’t just add up to taking care of others. Helping solve a patient’s physical or emotional problem in a visit was instant validation for me, especially since I…