Trope. Other than an obscure word, what is it? The dictionary says it’s a figurative or metaphorical use of a word or expression. If that’s all…
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Trope. Other than an obscure word, what is it? The dictionary says it’s a figurative or metaphorical use of a word or expression. If that’s all…
I confess. I love mysteries and I love science fiction. So, it’s natural that I’d love novels that blend the two. In particular, I’ve enjoyed…
I’ve spent some time this week working on doodles for a cover to my current work-in-progress. This novel started out as a locked-room mystery set…
When I first arrived from Iowa to my new home state, Oklahoma, I wondered if we even spoke the same language. At the filling station,…
We use words all the time. But which words, and how we use them, matters. Not all words are created equal. There are no shortcuts…
Phlebotinum is any substance that can be sprinkled, inhaled, injected, or otherwise deployed to create an effect needed by the plot. Examples include dilithium crystals,…
What is a scene? In The Art of Fiction, John Gardner writes that a scene is …an unbroken flow of action from one incident in time…
Samuel Beckett’s masterpiece, Waiting for Godot, accomplishes an improbable and amazing artistic feat. At first glance, it’s a two act play in which nothing happens. …
How the author answers the the question, “what was he thinking,” can be critical. Readers need to understand the thoughts and motivations of characters, otherwise…
We’ve all got names. Most of us are stuck with the ones our parents gave us. Some of us decide to change our names. I…