Retcon
Retcon. Sounds like a throwback from the first wave of video games. It’s actually an abbreviation of two combined words. Retroactive continuity, or retcon for short, is a literary device […]
The Writing Habit
I call myself a writer. I’ve been doing the writing thing for a few decades. In high school, I was recruited into our newspaper staff, more like shamed into it,
The Genre Mix
For works of fiction, multiple genre listings are encouraged in hopes of expanding readership prospects. Last year, my Goodreads Reading Challenge selections included a novel with ten genres tagged by
The Writer’s Muse
Many times, I’ve mused on the writer’s muse. In general terms, does a creative type need some object, person, or imagined being as inspiration to formulate or manifest ideas? I
The Powerful Gaze
When it comes to stories, I’m not the sentimental type. At least I don’t think so. I’m not a huge fan of romance novels either. I like stories that explore
Let it Breathe
Let it breathe. These words, by romance author, Beverly Jenkins, were spoken to a roomful of seasoned and newbie authors looking for inspiration and sound advice as they work on
Let’s Get Personal
As a teen, I loved reading biographies. It was a brief spell, but I made the most of it with soaking up stories about historical figures or celebrities. As an
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Characters With Character
Invariably, I will read a book and trudge through weak structure, rambling sentences, and, at times, confusing sequences. And yet I stick with the story compelled by the turn of
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Chapter Review
This week, I picked up a book from a dusty plastic crate stored away in the laundry room of my basement. Many boxed items remain stacked up from my former
World+Character+Conflict=Story
Stories build worlds and worlds build stories. As writers, we can mirror or record the world around us with accurate, historical accounts of past events. We can create our own
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