Out There Screaming

This book is a compendium of horror short stories designed to leave you in a state of wonder, excitement, and horror. I’ve read a lot of horror stories in my life, most notably Steven King and Clive Barker, and this book rivals them. I’ve mentioned this before in an earlier post, about how it dropsContinue reading “Out There Screaming”

A wise man once said…pt 2…

To become a better writer you must read books from authors better than you. So I picked up Jordan Peele’s Out There Screaming. And I feel out of my league. This is a collection of short horror stories written by black authors. Each story is a dive into murky waters that twirl you around blindly.Continue reading “A wise man once said…pt 2…”

I didn’t want to go to a graveyard for a picnic,

…but my boyfriend Jake insisted. He said it would be great, and if any spooks showed up he would beat them to within an inch of their lives. I rolled my eyes at that, and asked if he was just trying to get laid. “Naw, baby. It’ll be great. Look Val, there’ll be a fullContinue reading “I didn’t want to go to a graveyard for a picnic,”

So I’m really putting some thought into this book I’m writing.

I thought that I would just correct a few things every here and there, but now I’m re-writing some passages to to add meat to it, to fill it out. I thought I’d be done already, but not only am I not, I’m adding stuff, re-working other things, and generally having a good time aboutContinue reading “So I’m really putting some thought into this book I’m writing.”

So now I have to make my characters talk to each other.

What’s up with that? Okay, of course they must converse, to trade feelings, ideas, to get a message across, or have a heart to heart. But it’s like, as you write, you have to remember who’s talking, why would this person say that, how would the other respond. You have to develop multiple personalities insideContinue reading “So now I have to make my characters talk to each other.”

Ok, so this is what I’m doing now.

Well at least while my keyboard still works. While I’m re-editing my book, I’m going to try a few quickies, which are just really short 50 word stories. I do need to keep practicing, and I do need to finish the book. You know what they say, a writer’s work is never done. So justContinue reading “Ok, so this is what I’m doing now.”

What I learned from my creative writing course

I learned to add depth to my writing. Some would think that’s a small thing, but consider this: Gerry entered the room and saw her standing at the bar. He went to her and demanded answers. She laughed in his face. Seems simple enough, right? Now try this: Gerry was angry and needed answers. TheContinue reading “What I learned from my creative writing course”