Writing a story is like having sex... exciting, fun, heart-pounding, sometimes messy and awkward, but always enjoyable when there is passion involved. Then, editing is like raising the child...
Word trap
Still listening to Dorian Gray, but I've noticed a certain repetition of wording that happens so often it stands out. No one in this book ever sits down, they all invariably fling or throw themselves into their chairs and sofas--sometimes multiple characters in a scene. I find myself repeating words like that, too. When I …
Active crows
I've always felt drawn to crows, but lately I've been feeling more and more interested in them. Something about their eyes and their behavior radiates mystery and intelligence to me. I think my next novel will involve crows in some way... But, it also will involve active characters. In editing my novel and my novella, …
Start at the action
Now that I've got a bit of experience slush reading at our new magazine, I can say 'start at the action' with even more certainty than ever. When you're reading someone else's story, who you don't know, and have no preconceptions about, it is a lot easier to see faults. One fault being 'I have …
Picture book?
My novella has some pictures in it, and strange things done with the formatting. I wonder how that will go over or who will like and dislike it... I need to take one more picture to stick in there, and finish editing of course, then I will get to hear from some readers whether all …
Jonas David 