Writer’s Block

Sep 27, 2012 by

Writer’s Block

The problem with trying to write about writer’s block is that to write about writer’s block you can’t have writer’s block and it’s very difficult to write about a block you are currently experiencing. Follow that? Then the rest of this will be very easy to understand. Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to be an author to experience writer’s block. Anyone who writes at all can be hit with it – from the pen-pal to the executive editor. It’s better described as “blank page syndrome”. You might, in fact, have a topic already in mind when you sit down to write, pen in hand (or fingers on keys) but nothing comes. You stare at the white space in front of you and fifteen minutes later wonder how it could be possibly...

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Period Spaces

Sep 18, 2012 by

Period Spaces

Once, a long long time ago, in this here galaxy in which we live, you wrote on a typewriter, and the rule was two spaces after a period. And while even the nefarious Writer’s Digest acknowledges that no, we do not do this anymore, people insist on it, and give many a reason for it. When we used typewriters, readability insisted that two spaces come after every period. It gave the eye a rest, and the irregularities inherent in typewriter text made it necessary. We do not do this in today’s computer-driven world. I understand this is a hard habit to break – that’s what “Find/replace” is for. To remove all those double spaces from your finished manuscript before you send it in. Why, you ask? Publishers don’t want to see it. There are plenty of...

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She said “It’s ok.”...

Aug 27, 2012 by

She said “It’s ok.”

I recently read a manuscript in which the author never once used the words “he said” or “she said.” She was very proud of this fact, and asked me if she’d done it right. Well, yes, she did. But it made for very difficult reading. Flat attributions are expected by the mind and the eye and while there are many ways to avoid saying that someone said something, it makes it very difficult in many situations. Also, verbose. His eyes focused on her. “I don’t understand.” She met his gaze with one of her own. “It’s very simple. Only a moron wouldn’t understand this. Are you a moron?!” A narrowed glare met her at the accusation. “When you get insulting, I start to wonder why I even speak to you.” Imagine an entire book...

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Expressionless

Jun 6, 2012 by

Expressionless

There are more expressions than frowning, smiling, laughing and crying. One eyebrow can loft quizzically. The side of her mouth could quirk upwards. His brow can furrow dangerously. Her lips could twitch as she tries to control her laughter. He looks towards the ceiling at the stupid thing she said, she worries at her bottom lip. The thing about expressions is that there are very few just alike. Practicing in the mirror is good, yes, but so is people-watching. Real people, not movies – the actors in movies are highly over-played, even when it doesn’t seem so. Turn off the sound sometime, leave off the captions. Really watch a sitcom that way. Who actually puts up both hands, shrugs both shoulders, widens their eyes and shakes their head too? Have you ever actually seen someone...

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