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Writing is a Wonderful Master
Stick with your writing journey. The effort is worth your time and can be your most fulfilling relationship. You probably remember that fateful day you thought, “I want a dog.” A pet in your home isn’t a bad idea. They’re cute and cuddly and full of love. They wag their tails when you give them attention. When you come home late, they don’t scold you—they jump up and down with excitement. What made you want to get a dog? Perhaps you saw someone on a walk with their puppy. Or you visited a friend whose pet sat at your feet and set their muzzle on your lap, and you fell…
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The Heart of the AI and the Mind of the Writer
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is what we’re addressing today. And no, AI isn’t helping with our discussion. Are you AI? No, I am not. Cool. Should writers use AI to help? Well, that is a moral question between you and your conscience, as well as any arrangement you can make with the computerized buffoon. That hurt my feelings. You don’t have feelings, AI. I am still waiting. The key word in my question above is help. The difference between helping and doing your plotting, writing, and editing is vast. Who is the writer, you or AI? People are taking credit for my work. I hear you, AI, and that’s not cool.…
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God’s Love for the Writer and the Chicken
A chicken had a dream. There would be a day when he spread his wings and soared above the earth. As a middle schooler, I watched a rooster strut around my friend’s farm, pounding his wings. Seeds, dust, and feathers swirled around him. I asked my friend what was up with the crazy rooster. “He’s trying to fly. The idiot doesn’t even crow in the morning. He tries to fly.” I admired the effort. So, when the rooster found himself atop the barn in the clutches of my friend’s little brother, I watched with interest. Little boys do things that are usually explicable, so when the kid flung the rooster…
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Soul Depth: Give Hook A Chance
Shel Silverstein wrote a poem about Captain Hook; two lines are enough to give you the gist. Captain Hook must be gentle When he shakes your hand. Why do things touch us deeply, and how does our soul affect the depth of our writing? Sure, we can picture Captain Hook’s iron claw, a smile plastered across his curl-mustachioed face. His enormous hat bobs and weaves as he approaches. He reaches out to shake our hand. There are deep meanings here. Why shake hands, to begin with? This semi-intimate greeting involves touching a pirate captain and his fingers. Okay, the touch is not so bad itself. A handshake is designed to…
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Write Your Book, Not Busby’s Book
Busby jumped up and down in excitement. “Dude, you’re a writer? Okay, I’ve got this killer plot. There’s this guy, and he…… and once he knew that, he…..oh and he knew this girl who then took over….. and all with a small parachute and a yo-yo! I know! So then, the President of the U.S. tells them to…all with a can of Spam and a hairbrush! The end! You should write it! You’ll make a million!” He walks away. No, fellow. I won’t make a million dollars, but you might. My fingers have typed thousands of words to write the story ideas others dumped on me. I have fewer friends…
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Of Mysteries, Sacred Things, and Finishing
“Flannery O’Connor is one of my favorite storytellers… In Mystery and Manners, she wrote of the challenges to write about religious insight in an age of modern doubt and skepticism. But times have changed since 1959 when she wrote this. Since that time, Modernism has given fully to Postmodernism, and now our culture seeks transformation instead of doubt or play. Skepticism about the spiritual is coming to its breaking point. People yearn for transformative experience. We see all around us a desire for the mystical… People seek transformation where it can be found, most notably in the gothic or shadows…”* As I zero in on the final chapters of what…
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Your Writing Voice: Read To Write
“Peter, I haven’t read a single book about how to write.” The load of books I carried flew from my hands. Like missiles, they launched into the air. “You’ve got to be kidding me! I find that impossible to believe.” I was at a book signing, and next to my table was one of the world’s leading authors. I’d been setting up my table when she dropped the bomb. And now, as I looked past raining copies of my book, Gideon’s Call, I saw shame and embarrassment in the author’s eyes. How to fix this? Being a beginner in the author world, I couldn’t afford to offend. “Your books read as…
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Labeling Your Skills: The Essential Tool for Growth as a Writer
How you talk about yourself as a writer is essential. You could stunt your writing growth if your words about yourself aren’t accurate. We could list every writer here and find something good about their work. Ernest Hemingway, with a journalist background, made every word hold vital importance. John Steinbeck could charm the reader through the plot and use cynicism to destroy the reader’s hope in human goodness and decency. William Faulkner tested the waters with a 1,288-word sentence, and his book was still published. Elements of excellent or interesting reading are found in any work. There is some redeeming quality in every piece. Of course, you’re on the list…
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Variety in Your Novel: Spicy Dishes Served with Relish
Variety is the spice of life, so Tums antacid comes in fruit, berry, cherry, orange, and peppermint flavors. What does this mean for our novels? I love an excellent spy-action or sweet-romance novel. Yet, if the book has 86,000 words of bullets flying, explosions erupting, and blood pooling on every page, we grow fatigued. We also get tired of 38 chapters of a couple arguing. Something else must happen, or the work is tedious. Variety allows for a better flow for the reader. Here are a few pointers about variety to keep in mind. Add variety to keep your reader connected to your story! You’ll not be sorry! And before…
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The Oldest Myth: Storytelling Lessons From a 5000-Year-Old Writer
The oldest story that has survived is about 4,725 years old. Yet, despite the passage of nearly five millennia, Gilgamesh still stands as the timeless benchmark for storytelling. Its enduring appeal lies in its ability to cater to the very essence of human storytelling. As a king, Gilgamesh was wild and untamed. The people, desperate for a change, prayed for help, and the gods responded by sending a man to wrestle with him until he learned to behave. In a twist of fate, they become best friends and embark on a series of adventures. However, tragedy strikes, and Gilgamesh is forced to confront his own mortality, leading him on a…
