Linda Todd has a short story called “A Marriage Blessed” and an essay titled “Tuesdays with Julaina” in my anthology, Written Across the Genres. She helped me with the editing and prep of the anthology for the press. The book includes two collaborative stories, “Dock Story One” and Dock Story Two.” Both stories had the […]
The Sagging Middle in Novels
Sagging middles in writing novels can be a mess. Often everything gets thrown into the middle while the plot goes around in circles. New characters or too many characters flounder, back story info dumps create road blocks, tension disappears, dialogue goes on and on by characters who are in their heads instead of taking action, […]
Antiphrasis Rhetorical Device
Antiphrasis is a figure of speech in which a phrase or word is opposite to its literal meaning in order to create an ironic or comic effect. Examples: “The Chihuahua’s name is Goliath.” “The actress was a mere babe of forty years.” “Get in, little man,” he told his six foot tall friend. Antiphrasis surprises […]
Author Stacey Gustafson Book Signing
Magical Holiday Evening Author Book Signing Towne Center Books with Stacey Gustafson Let’s help support our local favorite indie bookstore. Meet Stacey Gustafson at Towne Center Books in downtown Pleasanton on November 22 from 5-7 pm during the Magical Holiday Evening, the annual open house including a visit from Santa. The streets will come alive […]
Quote by Tom Peters
“If a window of opportunity appears, don’t pull down the shade.” ~Tom Peters
Using the Sense of Taste in Writing
Using the five senses in writing helps the reader experience the scene. Sight, smell, sounds, and touch are easy to add. Taste is often forgotten unless there are several scenes with food in them. However, your character’s lover could be tasting her berry chapstick. At the beach, the character could lick her lips and taste […]
Rhetorical Devices Epitasis and Anesis
Epitasis is the addition of a concluding sentence that merely emphasizes what has already been stated. A kind of amplification. Example: Eat your sandwich. All of it. Anesis is the opposite of epitasis. It adds a concluding sentence that diminishes the effect of what was said previously. Examples: The little dog is cute and obedient. […]