Category Archives: short story

Valet Wisdom & Writing

Posted on February 22, 2019 by cmwriter

The other day while waiting for my car to be retrieved by a valet, another valet who was waiting for new arrivals engaged me in conversation. It was one of those quick philosophical talks about life, its whimsies, its tricks, … Continue reading →

Posted in blogging, fiction writing, Finding Ideas: The Creative Process, Inspiration, Looking for Inspiration, personal essay, Reading, short story, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Writers’ Workshops to the Rescue

Posted on November 8, 2018 by cmwriter

I’m continually looking for writing tips, techniques, and approaches. I’m forever searching for ways to become a better writer and be inspired. Sound familiar? As a result, I attend conferences and workshops, read articles and books on writing, listen to speakers, … Continue reading →

Posted in Authors, Creativity, fiction writing, Finding Ideas: The Creative Process, Inspiration, Looking for Inspiration, novel, Reading, short story, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Earthquakes and Primary Research

Posted on August 16, 2018 by cmwriter

Okay, this is bizarre. It’s about 6 p.m. in the evening. I’m working at the computer on a short story titled “The Phone Call.” It opens with a woman standing in her kitchen drinking a cup of coffee when an … Continue reading →

Posted in blogging, Inspiration, personal essay, Reading, short story, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Lucky Seven and Writers

Posted on April 2, 2018 by cmwriter

I’d never seen the word shichifukujin until I read author Dan Brown’s thriller Digital Fortress. Granted, there are many words I haven’t seen or read, but this one intrigued me. Brown simply revealed the shichifukujin were the seven deities of … Continue reading →

Posted in Authors, Creativity, fiction writing, Inspiration, novel, Reading, short story, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

When Your Story Setting Chooses You

Posted on March 4, 2018 by cmwriter

You may have visited or lived in a place you knew would become a setting for a story you had yet to write. A place that spoke to you in not only a visceral, emotional way, but also in an … Continue reading →

Posted in Authors, blogging, Books, Creativity, fiction writing, Finding Ideas: The Creative Process, Inspiration, Looking for Inspiration, Reading, short story, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Curious about your DNA story?

Posted on January 1, 2018 by cmwriter

I finally did it. I succumbed to the lure of Ancestry.com and the siren call of its TV advertising. Unable to resist its special holiday pricing, I sent for my kit. The compact box arrived with instructions on how to … Continue reading →

Posted in blogging, Creativity, fiction writing, Finding Ideas: The Creative Process, Inspiration, Looking for Inspiration, memoir, personal essay, poetry, Reading, short story, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Rewriting and Revising a Story …

Posted on December 21, 2017 by cmwriter

My mother was a fabulous seamstress. She made all of her own clothes, all my sister’s clothes, and all of mine. Dresses, blouses, skirts, coats, jackets, hats – nothing was out of her reach. In fact, I didn’t have a … Continue reading →

Posted in fiction writing, Reading, short story, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Giving Input to Another Writer

Posted on December 4, 2017 by cmwriter

Being in a critique group is one way to add dimension to your writing process. As a participant, you receive or give critiques on ways to improve the story under discussion. But giving input in a positive, productive way is … Continue reading →

Posted in fiction writing, novel, personal essay, short story, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

A Writers’ Critique Group at Last

Posted on November 15, 2017 by cmwriter

I pulled into the parking lot of the local library a little before 10 a.m., feeling a bit excited. After many years, a writers’ critique group was forming in my locale under the auspices of the Palm Springs Writers Guild … Continue reading →

Posted in Authors, Books, Creativity, fiction writing, Inspiration, memoir, novel, personal essay, Reading, short story, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Personal Essay

Posted on October 17, 2017 by cmwriter

Basically, I’m a short story writer. I’m used to the conventions and practices of that genre. I’m still growing as a fiction writer and still learning. I keep working. As far as essay format is concerned, I’m used to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Finding Ideas: The Creative Process, Inspiration, personal essay, Reading, short story, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments