Action scenes: blegh

I hate writing them, and dislike reading them mostly, unless something is being revealed either about the story, or about the characters. Otherwise, whether it's 'exciting' or not, it's just getting in the way of my need to find out what happens next. So, consequently, I try to make my action scenes either end as …

Short sentences

After finishing 'several short sentences about writing' , as I mentioned earlier. I'm still thinking about it, and considering reading it again already. I have a lot to learn about writing. For one, my sentences tend to be too long and meandering. I need to do away with 'with' and 'as' where I can. Be …

How many POVs is too many?

I have been listening to The Disappeared: A Retrieval Artist Novel, by Kristine Kathryn Rusch, because I wanted a sci fi detective story, and so far it is interesting and fairly exciting, but I am finding myself somewhat annoyed by how many POV's it has. I find myself annoyed by the cliff-hangers every time it switches …

Find a writing enemy

Competition always makes me more productive. I've written my best stories when they were for contests among friends. I knew if I didn't turn in something good, I wouldn't live it down, so I'd meet the deadline no matter what. By writing enemy I mean someone you want to be better than, someone you want …

Several short sentences about writing, by Verlyn Klinkenborg

I got this as a gift last year, and am finally finishing it now after a long hiatus of distraction. This is unequivocally the best book on writing I've ever read. Each page--each sentence--is a useful insight that most 'how to write' books would stretch out into an entire chapter. It is a joy to …