Here’s something new I thought I’d launch on TWL, my response to questions I get sent from aspiring writers. I’m calling it Hi Susan so if you have a question about anything writing related whether it be fiction or non-fiction just leave a comment or you can send it to me via writerslifeblog@gmail.com. The first question…
Author: This Writer's Life
Wednesday Writing Prompts-Three Word Prompt
This week’s prompt focuses on three words that you have to fit somewhere in your story. They are- Swimming with sharks It could be that your character is literally swimming with sharks…maybe on a dare, perhaps they’re lost at sea. Or it could be just a phrase about someone or a situation where the…
Me, Myself, and I-Writing in the First Person
Raise your hand if you write (or want to write) stories in the first person? It’s hard for me to guess the exact percentage of you who are holding your hand high in the air. I have lots of students who tell me they’d love to give it a try but feel it’s too difficult….
Monday Motivation-Don’t View It As Failure
Edison probably wasn’t talking about writing when he made this quote but it’s ideal inspiration for authors. So what if a plot doesn’t go as planned, or the characters fall flat, or another rejection hits your mailbox. You’ve not failed. It’s just that something didn’t quite work for that story. Fire up the computer and start…
Friday Ramblings From An Author-Cooking and Sci-Fi Are Hot
A cooler rainy week which meant I got lots done. When I say lots, it seems like I don’t have much to show for it, but it’s all about preparation. One thing I’ve been working on is the sister site to this one that’s focused on self publishing. My intent was to have it…
Anthologies-Ideal for Beginning Writers
I’m often asked for suggestions about markets that are more willing to consider new writers. There are a lot out there. Some will pay you a small amount while others will pay in copies. One market area I had a lot of success with was anthologies. In fact, I think being published in four anthologies at the…
Wednesday Writing Prompts-You Pick Your Favorite Opening Scene
I thought we’d try something a little different for this week’s prompt. Write the opening scene for three different stories based on this photo, then pick which one you like best and complete the short story. Have fun and happy writing.
Get To Know Your Character
One of the first questions I ask students is; what do you remember most about your favorite books? I always know that at least 99 % are going to tell me about a character they fell in love with, cheered for, and turned the pages just to see what happened to them. Don’t get me wrong,…
Friday Ramblings From An Author-Always Proofread
This week I know what the person who first coined the term TGIF was thinking. This one’s even Friday the 13th. It seems like it’s a busy week and I’ve lost count on how many words I’ve written or read. Ever been so word fatiqued that you’re not sure if you’re spelling simple words like the and…
Where Do You Get Your Ideas?
Tell a non-writer you’re an author and the first question out of their mouth is usually, where do you get your ideas? Sometimes it’s a puzzle for writers too. What happens when the story idea bank runs dry? When I began writing, one major issue I had was one too many story ideas. They’d…