April 2016 – Words & Deeds

April 30, 2016

If Only Reading Burned More Calories: A Laugh for Your Saturday

Check out the original at dumpaday.com (what a name!).

General Thoughts & Updates/Humor & Wordplay Comments: 0

April 29, 2016

How to Break Promises without Breaking Promises

Promises are made to be broken. Hmm. Nope. Scratch that. Promises are made to be broken well or not at all. Either you have to keep the promises you make to your readers, or you have to break them in a way that doesn’t really break them. Let’s just say that breaking them is the exception, not the rule. But if you...

Characterization, Plot, & Setting/Research & Worldbuilding Comments: 2

April 28, 2016

What Promises Are You Making to Your Readers?

What promises are you making to your readers? What does that even mean? It’s not like you signed a written contract. You didn’t pinky swear to tell the reader what happened to that character who disappeared mysteriously in the first chapter. You’re under no obligation to include that, right? Actually,… I guess it was an implied pinky swear ’cause you kind of are. Readers rely on...

Characterization, Plot, & Setting/Research & Worldbuilding Comments: 2

April 27, 2016

A Tony Morrison Quote: “Don’t Tell Us What to Believe, What to Fear”

This quote is so full of different writing advice that I had to break it up a little. From motivation to ego to personal truth to a warning against proselytizing to a metaphor telling us to show -not tell: that’s a lot for one quote!

Inspiration/Quotes, Words, & Phrases Comments: 0

April 26, 2016

Do Writers Have a Moral Obligation to Society?

This is a serious question (and a series of questions), and I’m really curious what other writers think about moral obligation and writing. It’s pretty clear that many people believe that books can change the world, including the types of books that many of us are interested in writing – novels intended to be read for pleasure. My question is if regular books can...

General Thoughts & Updates Comment: 1

April 25, 2016

Can Building 3D Characters Improve Your Readers’ Empathy?

You’re probably getting tired of everyone harping at you to make sure your characters are 3D, that they have depth and aren’t flat. I can’t really blame you – hearing the same nagging from every writing resource you look at can get old quickly. And, of course, the most important topics end up repeated everywhere. But this article isn’t about how...

General Thoughts & Updates Comments: 3

April 24, 2016

Expert Wordplay: Victor Borge’s Phonetic Punctuation & Inflationary Language

If you like wordplay (especially with onomatopoeia and homophones), then start out your Sunday with a good laugh with Victor Borge’s “Phonetic Punctuation” and “Inflationary Language.” “Phonetic Punctuation” by Victor Borge Victor Borge combines onomatopoeia, nonverbal gestures, and punctuation into this hysterically funny bit. There are any number of cuts for these videos, but I think the explanation beforehand is very...

Humor & Wordplay/Videos Comments: 0

April 23, 2016

Half Pint Libraries: Another Excuse to Go to Half-Price Books

It’s late notice, but I just found out that Half-Price Books is doing a book drive for children through April 30th. The books will go to nonprofits, libraries, and teachers to make what Half-Price has appropriately named Half Pint Libraries. And the best part? (Besides giving kids access to books) For each book you donate, Half-Price will match it. I don’t know...

General Thoughts & Updates Comments: 0

April 22, 2016

Writing Prompt: Explore the Outrageous with Similes & Metaphors

When your writing feels stagnant, you’re struggling to come up with a new or unique idea, or the art of the unexpected is completely evading you, it can help to spend some time exploring the ridiculous and outrageous with a simile/metaphor writing prompt. It’s like how Robin Williams explained part of the acting process in his interview with Inside the Actor’s Studio (one of...

Literary Device Exercises/Writing Prompts Comments: 2

April 21, 2016

A Story Is Like a Horse

Even if you get it to stop, it might not end well. If the story needs to go a specific direction that badly, forcing it in another serves little but your own pride and stubbornness. One of the best habits for a writer to learn is to be sensitive to where the story you’ve started is headed. If you want a specific...

General Thoughts & Updates/Quotes, Words, & Phrases Comments: 0

Monthly Archive: April, 2016