Category Archives: fiction writing

Thoughts while reading a rejection …

Posted on July 31, 2017 by

Acceptance and rejection letters come to writers in all forms. Of course, the acceptances are the most fun. You savor them, place them in a special file, even frame them. The rejections are often form notes, maybe with a small … Continue reading →

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Finding the “just right” character name

Posted on October 31, 2016 by

I don’t have a magic potion for selecting a character name. Sometimes the name just arrives. Other times, it’s a hard search. I may have to give the character a temporary name for a while as I push ahead in … Continue reading →

Posted in Authors, Books, Creativity, fiction writing, Inspiration, Looking for Inspiration, novel, Reading, short story, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fiction Writing – Like Your Own Political Convention?

Posted on August 1, 2016 by

Fiction writing is like your own political convention. Pardon me? Really? Okay, hang with me on this. First, let’s look at what happens when you’re writing a short story. I attempted to analyze this conundrum with a story I just … Continue reading →

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A Public Reading of Another’s Work

Posted on May 15, 2016 by

Doing a public reading of another author’s work is an honor and a responsibility, and definitely feels different from doing a reading of your own stuff.  With your own, you’re protective and vulnerable. Nervous. (See my post from 10/15/15 called “What … Continue reading →

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What is it about a lighthouse?

Posted on May 1, 2016 by

What is it about a lighthouse and lighthouses in general? They seem to trigger tales of adventure or danger or disaster. They attract artists and photographers who want to capture their majesty and stalwart strength against nature. Writers such as … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, fiction writing, Finding Ideas: The Creative Process, Inspiration, Looking for Inspiration, poetry, Reading, short story, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Are You Getting Closer?

Posted on March 15, 2016 by

My very first post on “Written Beneath the Palms” in March 2012 was called Looking for Inspiration. The piece was about the Santa Rosa Mountains which edge a portion of the Coachella Valley near Palm Springs. They rise abruptly from … Continue reading →

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Stepping in Potholes

Posted on March 1, 2016 by

I have some writing projects I want to work on, but I keep falling into life’s potholes. Like what you may ask? Ah, let me count the ways. Pothole number one: the microwave. The thing sounded like an airplane when … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, fiction writing, Finding Ideas: The Creative Process, Inspiration, Looking for Inspiration, poetry, short story, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments