I've decided that I simply have to have a shell covered mirror for the bedroom of my new home in Florida. So I've been shopping. Online. In person. In catalogs. The prices of such mirrors are reasonable until you get to a certain size, the size I need.I was in a retail store the other day, talking with the owner, who happens to be a friend of my sister Jane. Jane seems to know everyone in southern Florida! I told the owner what I wanted. She had … [Read more...] about That Creative Urge
I Believe in Instinct: An Interview with Jon Land
Jon Land will be appearing at the Love Is Murder Conference in Chicago, Feb. 4-6, 2011. For more information go to www.loveismurder.net 1. Your books are very complex with multiple points of view and several story lines running through them. How do you plan them out? What strategies and techniques can you share? Great question to start with … [Read more...] about I Believe in Instinct: An Interview with Jon Land
Suggestions for Being a More Productive Writer
Melva Gifford took these notes on a presentation by Kevin J. Anderson that was available through Dave Farland's website. I thought there were some great ideas here.Presentation by Kevin J. Anderson on Nov. 10, 20101. Shut up and write. You can't wait to write until the muse hits. Think of your writing as a job. Brandon Anderson had a night job as a clerk at a hotel when he first started out as a writer.2. Defy the empty page: If you can't get … [Read more...] about Suggestions for Being a More Productive Writer
Of Mice and Men and Pigs
A couple of weeks ago I visited the local family-owned hardware store for mouse traps. It's not that I saw any mice, but I saw a few droppings and I heard the chewing in the walls. We've learned the hard way that mice travel in troops, and when the weather changes, they find their way indoors for shelter. David is a masterful mouse-trap setter, but he has one type of trap he prefers, so I'm a picky buyer. While I hate killing the little rodents, … [Read more...] about Of Mice and Men and Pigs
Lessons Learned Judging Contests
Right now, all my spare time goes to reading manuscripts for a contest. This isn't the first contest I've judged, nor is it likely to be the last. Although the effort is certainly time-consuming, it's also a great education. I thought I'd share some of the lessons learned, lessons that apply to any contest you enter.1. Read the directions. I know you're probably thinking, well, duh! But I can't tell you how many people goof this up. They misread … [Read more...] about Lessons Learned Judging Contests
How to Talk Like They Do in the Lou
Last week I took my niece Lexie, my sister Jane, and Lexie's son Skyler to lunch down in Florida. Since Skyler is only two, the nice greeter at Chili's gave him the kid's menu and a couple of crayons. I helped a little with the coloring, and then Skyler turned over the menu and there it was...the St. Louis Arch. That's a photo I took of the Arch this summer looking straight up at it. It's an amazing piece of sculpture. In one way, it's like the … [Read more...] about How to Talk Like They Do in the Lou
