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Carol S. Mann
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Bits and Pieces
“if a man does not master his circumstances then he is bound to be mastered by them.”
― Amor Towles, A Gentleman in Moscow
Category Archives: short story
Writers’ Workshops to the Rescue
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 Author Elizabeth Sims, Developing a fictional character, Developing a fictional plot, editing your writing, perfectionism, Scene development in fiction, sequence in fiction writing, The short story, The Value of Writers' Workshops, Writer's Digest Magazine, You've Got A Book In You by Elizabeth Sims
4 Comments
Earthquakes and Primary Research
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 aftershocks, anxiety, earthquake kit, earthquakes, epicenter, fear, fight or flight, how do people react during an earthquake, primary research, secondary research, short story character, writing a short story
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Lucky Seven and Writers
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 Author Dan Brown, creating characters, Digital Fortress by Dan Brown, good luck, Hope, luck, rainbows, Seven Deities of Good Luck, shichifukujin, Snow White, Story and plot, The Seven Dwarfs, writing
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When Your Story Setting Chooses You
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 Choosing a story setting for your writing, Maid of the Mist, Niagara Falls, short story, story setting, story setting influencing a character, The American Falls, The Canadian Falls, The Horseshoe Falls, writing the short story
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Rewriting and Revising a Story …
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
Giving Input to Another Writer
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
