Last day of Jessica Barksdale’s writing retreat. I’m happy I found two Beta readers for Norman in the Painting. Kari Ann Flickinger and Gretchen Nordstrom. Now all I have to do is get the remaining one third of the book written, send it to them, make revisions from what they find is confusing, then send […]
Novel Revision on My Mind
Outside at a friend’s party in Pleasanton to see tonight’s sunset. On the patio after the stunning view. I’m thinking of the changes I need to make on one page in my novel before tomorrow morning. It’s the last day of Jessica Barksdale’s writing retreat. Each participant will read a revision of a page that […]
Food in Writing
What does your story’s characters eat? Today at Jessica Barksdale’s retreat, she suggested we write about food for 20 minutes. In Norman in the Painting, Jill wants to stall before going to her sister’s house. Viv, who has had too much to drink, tells Jill that the body of her colleague was found by the […]
A short story called “Duration Matters”
In Written Across the Genres, the last Mainstream Fiction short story, is “Duration Matters” by Arleen Eagling. It’s written in first person. The protagonist, Jennifer, is a high school student and she’s in trouble. Here are the first couple paragraphs: “Three months after I transferred from prep school to Ramsey High, I waited outside the […]
Writing Retreat Weekend Coming Up
My writer mentor teacher from years ago at Diablo Valley College, Jessica Barksdale, will be leading a writing retreat this coming weekend. I’ve submitted my ten pages and look forward to hear what is working and what isn’t. A chapter from Norman in the Painting will be scrutinized. She supplies us with breakfast and lunch, […]
“Saving Sheena” a Short Story by Jan Davies
Jan Davies short story called “Saving Sheena” is in the Mainstream Fiction section of Written Across the Genres, my anthology available on Amazon and Kindle and can be ordered at a local bookstore. Sheena’s grown and married children are worried that she’s lonely living by herself. Here’s is an excerpt: “All five pairs of eyes […]
George Carlin Quotes
George Denis Patrick Carlin born on May 12, 1937, died from heart failure on this day, June 22, 2008, at seventy-one years old. “He was regarded as one of the most important and influential stand-up comedians.”His final HBO special, It’s Bad for Ya, was filmed less than four months before his death. In 2008, he […]