I am a writer, therefore I collect technique books. And articles. And notes on random scraps of paper. I’ll save anything that will help me get through a muddy plot or tame a misbehaving character. The problem I have isn’t a lack of information but the wrong timing. The most brilliant advice in the world …
Annette Langer’s story, “Out of the Blue, A Family,” published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Random Acts of Kindness, was featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul’s podcast with Amy Newmark on March 2, 2017. Annette’s story is told in “Thoughtful Thursday: Family Is What We Make It – How Kindness Paid off in …
Mona Dawson’s story, Georgia (On My Mind), was published in the January issue of Bay Woof, a magazine for dog lovers. Mona’s story is about the loss of her beloved pet samoyed, Georgia. James “J” Mills completed his twelfth issue as the editor of Bay & Delta Yachtsman magazine, in which he also writes …
March began quietly. I finished a story for critique group. I did the laundry. I listened to the weather report so I could prepare for the next rain storm. February is short, and there are deadlines. Between getting the tax information collected, registering for the April 22 Tri-Valley Writers conference (have you registered yet?) and …
Join us Saturday, May 20, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. at the Four Points by Sheraton, 5115 Hopyard Road, Pleasanton, as Judy Melinek, MD, and T.J. Mitchell present “Working Stiff: The Real CSI.” Dr. Melinek and her husband, T.J. Mitchell, will speak about their experiences in New York City while Melinek was in training to be a forensic …
The ancient Egyptians revered their scribes. The pharaoh was a scribe. One of the craters on the moon is named after Thoth, god of the scribes. According to a poem that I believe is ancient (but can’t remember where I found it or all of the words), the scribes may be dead, their families gone, …
I started writing another book. I have a title (The Captain and Chenille), and a concept. That is, I had a concept until I realized the universe is telling me to rethink the idea. I wasn’t listening to my characters telling me what they wanted to do, and my writing time wasn’t happy. First came …
Character, Plot and Writing Happiness by Lani Longshore Read More »
Even if you missed the deadline to write about the artwork on the Winterfest 2017 page, here is a visual prompt to let you experience the challenge now. My husband and I bought this vine because we had never seen such an unusual flower. The gardener in him looked forward to seeing it wind …
And so the darkest day arrives, and everywhere the storytellers settle in to bring the people through the night. Or we would, if someone would leave us alone long enough to write the story first, then revise it, then send it to beta readers, and finally do one last edit before the performance. Every year, …
Lament for the Winter Solstice by Lani Longshore Read More »
Annette Langer gave a presentation about finding self-empowerment to cope with obstacles by refocusing on humor to the Tri-Valley chapter of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association in early December. Her book signing included Healing through Humor: Change Your Focus, Change Your Life! and A Funny Thing Happened on My Way to the World: Diary of …
