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Category Archives: Characterization
9 Tips for Entering the Colorado Gold Writing Contest
The Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers writing contest is in full swing and you can enter up till June 1, 2012. Details and entry form are here. As contest co-chair this year, I’m excited to be able to participate in this … Continue reading
Weekly Writer’s Round-Up: Week of 3/18/12
In honor of the keenly-anticipated movie debut this week, let’s make this an all-Hunger Games all-the-time edition of the round-up. Sci-fi/fantasy blogger John Scalzi on why the movie industry is being owned by YA action. Thelma Adams on what your … Continue reading
The Hunger Games: What Suzanne Collins Did Right
It’s been a long time since I could read a book like a reader and not like a writer. What tense is this in? Whose head are we in? How is the writer handling the backstory? And mostly, DO something. … Continue reading
Posted in Characterization, Description, Fiction, Pop Culture, Reviews, Scenecraft, Writing Craft
Tagged Hunger Games, Katniss, Suzanne Collins, The Reaping
3 Comments
What Novelists Can Learn From the Oscars
I’ve recently torn apart my urban fantasy novel and tried to put it back together better, stronger, faster. The main character, our hero, had way too much support going into his final confrontation with the Big Bad. I’ve always loved … Continue reading
Posted in Characterization, Fiction, Plot, Reviews, Revision, Scenecraft, Writing Craft
Tagged Gladiator, Oscars, Rocky, Titanic
6 Comments
Weekly Writer’s Round-Up; Week of 11/20/11
My best of the web for writers this week. Hope it’s helpful. Social Media From the Red Pen of Doom guy, who’s name is actually Guy (Bergstrom), on Why Blog Hits DON’T REALLY MATTER. From writer Christina Katz: Platform and … Continue reading
Posted in Blogging, Characterization, Commentary, Description, Dialogue, E-Publishing, Fiction, Grammar, Marketing, New Media, Plot, Query Letters, Revision, Scenecraft, Self-Promotion, Viewpoint, Writing Craft
Tagged Christina Katz, Guy Bergstrom, Inkpop, query letter, Rae Carson, Rebecca Rasmussen, Red Pen of Doom, Writer Beware!, Writer Unboxed, Yuvi Zalkow
4 Comments
Why Is Grimm so Grim?
I started off excited to watch this paranormal show. It sounded grittier and less girly than the similar-themed Once Upon a Time. Writer/Producer David Greenwalt of Buffy, Angel, and Miracles fame is involved. Good to go. But after four episodes, … Continue reading
Posted in Characterization, Commentary, Plot, Reviews, TV, Writing Craft
Tagged David Greenwalt, Grimm, Once Upon a Time, Roger Rabbit, Television Without Pity
3 Comments
Book Review: Bliss by Lauren Myracle
I had been thinking about writing a book review about the YA horror book Bliss by Lauren Myracle when her name came up in a most unfortunate way. She was told her novel Shine would be nominated for a National … Continue reading
Posted in Characterization, Reviews, Writing Craft
Tagged Andy Griffith, Bliss, Lauren Myracle, Manson murders, National Book Award, Shine, YA horror
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Movie Review: The Ides of March
A political drama directed by George Clooney and starring the red-hot Ryan Gosling. The set-up is familiar: A smart, earnest politician (Clooney) who says all the right things and loves his beautiful wife. An idealistic staffer devoted to the ideals … Continue reading
Posted in Characterization, Movies, Reviews, Scenecraft
Tagged Entertainment Weekly, Evan Rachel Wood, George Clooney, Good Night and Good Luck, Marisa Tomei, Mystic River, Owen Gleiberman, Paul Giamatti, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robert Redford, Rod Lurie, Ryan Gosling, The Candidate, The Contender, The Ides of March, Unforgiven
1 Comment
My Origin Story Part 9: My Irish Novel
Previously on My Origin Story: I power-wrote my third novel twice in under three months and vowed I wouldn’t try that again for a long time. Not so fast. A few months later, November of my senior year in high … Continue reading
Posted in Characterization, My Origin Story, Pop Culture, Revision, Writing Craft
Tagged Bobby Sands, IRA, Leon Uris Trinity, Robert Kee, The Green Flag
2 Comments
AMC’s The Killing: Fooled Me Once
I was like a lot of people last year when The Killing debuted. I watched the first episode and went online to talk about it. “Good show. Kind of slow but it’s slow with atmosphere, not boredom.” My main nitpick: … Continue reading →