Like a lot of writers, I love reading about secret societies and their symbols, passwords, and rituals. Most of us have heard of the Freemasons, the Knights Templar, the Rosicrucian order, and the Illuminati. People get a lot of silly ideas about all of these groups. Some websites argue that all secret societies worship Satan, while other people believe that
Category: Writing Matters
I don’t know this blogger, but years ago, they made this wonderful long list of words that sound gorgeous. (Not all of them have felicitous meanings, mind you.) I keep losing the list, so I thought I would post it here… that way you can enjoy it, too! Have a great weekend, everybody!
This is a list of color names as well as color descriptions that relate to specific objects. I’ve tried to list the more familiar or clichéd descriptions words for colors first and then the fresher ways to describe colors later. Characters may still use clichés when they are speaking — sometimes, that’s just realistic dialogue. Some of these suggest other
Recommending good poems for people is dicey, and I know that different people will disagree on what the best poetry is. I’m going to give it a try anyway. My M.F.A. is in poetry. Many times, people have told me — often as a confession — that they don’t enjoy or read it. And the thing is, I don’t blame
What is a beta reader? it’s someone who reads your work and tells you what’s working and what needs fixing. If you’re doing the same for this person, then you might refer to them as a “critique partner.” For almost all writers, beta readers are a crucial part of crafting a quality manuscript and improving as a writer in general. Some people
I give a lot of advice on this blog. Most of it, like most good advice, is based on failure. I’ve messed up a lot, so I know what I’m talking about. Let’s say you’re a few chapters into your story, or maybe even 75 or 100 pages… and you’re just not feeling it. At all. What’s more, you have this new
Hey friends! Here are three books that I enjoyed lately! The science one took me a while to read because I took so many notes. I always take at least a few notes on the books I read so that I can remember them better, and I have a new journal for all the books I read in 2016. Here’s