-
Carol S. Mann
Category Archives: short story
Finding the “just right” character name
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 Andy Weir, finding character names, Harry Bosch, Mark Watney, Michael Connelly, Mitch Rapp, naming a character in a work of fiction, Order to Kill, The Martian, The Wrong Side of Goodbye, Vince Flynn
Leave a comment
How do you get in the mood – to write, that is?
Some days I walk down the hall to the office thinking of other things I’d rather do than write. You know, procrastinator thoughts. Paint a room. Clean the garage. Pay bills. Other days I walk down the hall like I’m … Continue reading
Fiction Writing – Like Your Own Political Convention?
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
Posted in fiction writing, Reading, short story, Writing
Tagged analogy, antagonist, fiction writing, pantser, planner, protagonist, reading, setting, short story, steps in writing the short story, writing, writing process
6 Comments
A Public Reading of Another’s Work
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
What is it about a lighthouse?
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 couplet, Edgar Allan Poe, fiction, ghazal, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, lighthouse, lighthouse mystique, poetic style, poetry, rhyme, syllables, Virginia Woolf, writing
10 Comments
The Summit
We all have experiences in our lives that are unforgettable, that are destined to become life memories. I’m talking about events that made a great impression, gave a sense of accomplishment, filled you with joy, filled you with gratitude, stayed … Continue reading
Posted in Creativity, Finding Ideas: The Creative Process, Inspiration, Looking for Inspiration, memoir, poetry, Reading, short story, Writing
Tagged climbing Mt. Whitney, finding inspiration, inspiration, life memories, Mt. Whitney, poem, poetry, unforgettable memories, writing your memories
8 Comments
Thoughts while reading a rejection …
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 →