Writing:
My weekend was rather unsettled so reading and writing did not become my focus. However, I did edit the 12,000 or so words in Bubble the Gruggle. And finished The Long Walk. To make up for this I have two opportunities this week to escape to the local library to write. One prior to a writing workshop (see below) and the other prior to hosting a seniors writing group. These library sessions are always successful, so I am looking forward to them. On one visit an author friend will be joining me for a while as she is purchasing three of my books!
The workshop I attended last night was so much fun! Wine & Whine.
As you can imagine there are a plethora of subjects and ideas raised from the starting point of alcohol. How it affects a characters life, behavior, social interaction etc. We also looked at how you can write about a drunk person without saying it – movement, attitude, gestures and more. A good exercise in writing techniques.
Books:
My review:
An excellent insight into the minds of young men under emotional, physical and spiritual duress. As always Richard Bachman/Stephen King delivers strong characters and world building, leaving the reader with empathy for the personalities inhabiting his narrative.
Settled into this narrative quickly, which is always a good sign.
Writing Tips:
While spell-checking programs serve as a good tool, they should not be relied upon to detect all mistakes. Regardless of the length of the article, always read and review what you have written.
Instead of adding tags (he said/she said) to every bit of dialogue, learn to identify the speaker by showing him/her in action. Example: “Pass that sweet-smelling turkey this way.” With knife in one hand and fork in the other, Sam looked eager to pounce.
Mandy Eve-Barnett's Blog for Readers & Writers 