Now that the weather is better, I find myself away from the computer more often. The writing projects lined up on my desk are gathering dust, metaphorically and literally. I wasn’t quite at the point of despair because the weather is beautiful, but the nagging voice in my head was getting louder. Then, on a […]
Stairway to Story: A writing prompt by Lani Longshore Read More »
Over the years, I’ve read lots of books and articles about creating memorable characters. Early on, the advice focused on visualizing your character and considering how gender, height, weight, coloring, and recognizable facial markings could have affected that character’s life. Later, it became fashionable to think of fashion. What did it mean that your character
Creating memorable characters with a go-to excuse by Lani Longshore Read More »
I just finished Lisa Cron’s Story Genius. It’s a fabulous book with some outstanding exercises, especially for finding the real starting point for your novel. I’ve started planning my next novel, exploring my characters, and collecting scenes that will help me find the right place to begin the story. My revelation for this blog, however,
Writing Beyond the Ending by Lani Longshore Read More »
I am a writer, therefore I collect technique books. And articles. And notes on random scraps of paper. I’ll save anything that will help me get through a muddy plot or tame a misbehaving character. The problem I have isn’t a lack of information but the wrong timing. The most brilliant advice in the world
Well-timed Writing by Lani Longshore Read More »
Annette Langer’s story, “Out of the Blue, A Family,” published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Random Acts of Kindness, was featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul’s podcast with Amy Newmark on March 2, 2017. Annette’s story is told in “Thoughtful Thursday: Family Is What We Make It – How Kindness Paid off in
March began quietly. I finished a story for critique group. I did the laundry. I listened to the weather report so I could prepare for the next rain storm. February is short, and there are deadlines. Between getting the tax information collected, registering for the April 22 Tri-Valley Writers conference (have you registered yet?) and
The Idleness of March by Lani Longshore Read More »
The ancient Egyptians revered their scribes. The pharaoh was a scribe. One of the craters on the moon is named after Thoth, god of the scribes. According to a poem that I believe is ancient (but can’t remember where I found it or all of the words), the scribes may be dead, their families gone,
Building Our Own Monuments by Lani Longshore Read More »
I started writing another book. I have a title (The Captain and Chenille), and a concept. That is, I had a concept until I realized the universe is telling me to rethink the idea. I wasn’t listening to my characters telling me what they wanted to do, and my writing time wasn’t happy. First came
Character, Plot and Writing Happiness by Lani Longshore Read More »
Even if you missed the deadline to write about the artwork on the Winterfest 2017 page, here is a visual prompt to let you experience the challenge now. My husband and I bought this vine because we had never seen such an unusual flower. The gardener in him looked forward to seeing it wind
A Second Chance at Ekphrasis by Lani Longshore Read More »
And so the darkest day arrives, and everywhere the storytellers settle in to bring the people through the night. Or we would, if someone would leave us alone long enough to write the story first, then revise it, then send it to beta readers, and finally do one last edit before the performance. Every year,
Lament for the Winter Solstice by Lani Longshore Read More »
