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The Joyous Islands of Exposition and Narration (or, You Can’t Swim Through Description Forever)
Looking at my current short story projects, I’ve realized some are all bite and no bark. In a few of these stories, I thrust my protagonist into action on page one, and other than their internal reactions to what’s going on, I don’t showcase their reflection on the past or their hopes for the future; Read more
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Quote Me On This
Can we learn anything by writing down quotes? I ask myself this sometimes, when I read a punchy phrase in a crime story, or one that tugs my heart’s strings, or one that’s constructed expertly, each word placed like a brick forming a smooth column. I analyze the quotes sometimes, pick them apart like a Read more
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The Nine Billion Names of God – Short Story Review
The Nine Billion Names of God is a short story that speculates God’s purpose for mankind and how technology intersects with spirituality. With a total of three scenes and no particular protagonist (rather, we hop from 3rd person limited over various scientists as they interact with Tibetan monks), the author Arthur C. Clarke makes it Read more
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“Wink” – Sammi Cox’s Weekend Writing Prompt #344
A wink with talons. In sunlight, it sparkles—then claws into your flesh. 13-word micro fiction written for Sammi Cox’s Weekend Writing Prompt: “Wink” Read more
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Sensory Sentences Exercise #1
From a list of strong verbs, strong nouns, and using all five senses, I paint with my words. Read more
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Word Choice Exercise #2
Here I practice creating vibrant dialogue for distinct characters. Read more
The Fiction Writer 