There's nothing better than a hot dog on a nice summer evening. It's something we grew up with, right along with the mysterious urban legend that hotdogs were made from the gross parts of our friend Cow. My brother and I refused to believe it. They taste so good, after all. And by the time we grew … [Read more...] about Life is like a Hot Dog…
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Your Audience: Boys vs.Girls
Sparked by a thread over at Absolute Write, I thought it might be interesting to look at what hooks a boy reader vs. a girl reader in the Chapter Book/Middle Grade category. As a writer of what may be classified as ‘boy books,’ I strive hard to cross the gender line and create stories that will … [Read more...] about Your Audience: Boys vs.Girls
Emotion Thesaurus Entry: Contentment
When it comes to emotion, sometimes we need a brainstorming nudge. After all, each character will express their feelings differently depending on their personality, emotional range, and comfort zone. We hope this short, sample list of expressions will help you better imagine how your character might … [Read more...] about Emotion Thesaurus Entry: Contentment
Clichés, Part 3
Seeing as I blasted clichéd villains in my last post, I thought I'd look at a few more offenders in the character category. First up...The Rich and Handsome Jock (AKA Mr. Popularity)That's right. The Quarterback, the Basketball Star, the Track and Field God. He's the guy rarely seen without an … [Read more...] about Clichés, Part 3
Emotion Thesaurus Entry: Guilt
When it comes to emotion, sometimes we need a brainstorming nudge. After all, each character will express their feelings differently depending on their personality, emotional range, and comfort zone. We hope this short, sample list of expressions will help you better imagine how your character might … [Read more...] about Emotion Thesaurus Entry: Guilt
Clichés Part 2: Villians
Top ten ways to spot the Evil, Power-Hungry Villain Cliché Quick, read the following paragraph: Evil High Lord Ruderon, eldest son of the half-demon Scythe, commands his chaotic army of Lizard Men, Killer Terriers and Cannibalistic Toads in a bid for world domination. Standing against him is a … [Read more...] about Clichés Part 2: Villians
Grammar Answers Round #2
Hello again, everybody. Lots of punctuation questions this time. My answers address punctuation in fiction, which is a little more flexible and not quite as rigid as scholarly writing or journalism.Punctuation is a tool that some writers use to surprising advantage in unorthodox ways.There are two … [Read more...] about Grammar Answers Round #2
Emotion Thesaurus Entry: Indignation
When it comes to emotion, sometimes we need a brainstorming nudge. After all, each character will express their feelings differently depending on their personality, emotional range, and comfort zone. We hope this short, sample list of expressions will help you better imagine how your character might … [Read more...] about Emotion Thesaurus Entry: Indignation
Clichés…A Writer’s Dirty Little Secret
I thought it might be interesting to take a look at this controversial topic and the power it has over writers. Cliché, not a term to be used lightly, literally means a phrase, expression, or idea that has been overused to the point of losing its intended force or novelty (thank you wiki). It can … [Read more...] about Clichés…A Writer’s Dirty Little Secret
Showing vs. Telling
So...it was requested that we write a post on showing vs. telling. Since this is one of the common problems I see when critiquing, I figured it would be a good topic for our blog. Here goes: What's "Telling" and What's Wrong With It?Simply put, "telling" is telling the reader something. The … [Read more...] about Showing vs. Telling
Emotion Thesaurus Entry: Confidence/Pride
When it comes to emotion, sometimes we need a brainstorming nudge. After all, each character will express their feelings differently depending on their personality, emotional range, and comfort zone. We hope this short, sample list of expressions will help you better imagine how your character might … [Read more...] about Emotion Thesaurus Entry: Confidence/Pride
Long Live Grammar!
We are pleased to announce Grammbo, the Grammar Guru will be returning to the Bookshelf Muse to answer more grammar-related questions. For those who are new to the Muse, Grammbo is a successful editor who does manuscript evaluation, style, and substantive editorial work, in addition to being a … [Read more...] about Long Live Grammar!