March 2010 Blog Posts (126)

Let's Get it Started!

Today I discuss the importance of the first line of a story on my main blog, “Another Writer’s Life” - http://ascamacho.blogspot.com

Added by Austin S. Camacho on March 10, 2010 at 9:45pm — No Comments

Late morning slid into afternoon and then evening as Cary sat beside Preston’s bed waiting for him to wake. Every time he’d ask Tabitha when that would happen she’d reply, “When he’s ready and not before,” which did nothing to relieve his impatience.

As night fell Cary stood and stretched, going to the window to look out over the city, rapping his fingers on the pane until Tabitha told him in no uncertain terms that if he didn’t stop she was going to kick him out. He was about to… Continue

Added by Edith Glass on March 10, 2010 at 9:58am — No Comments

Nature vs. Nurture

Dan O’Shea has another thought-provoking post on his blog today, referring to posts by John Hornor and Chuck Wendig about how much of writing is talent alone, and…

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Added by Dana King on March 10, 2010 at 7:21am — 2 Comments

For Dog Lovers

I think we all need a break some time. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUCRZzhbHH0

Added by I. J. Parker on March 10, 2010 at 1:12am — 3 Comments

My crime and thriller novels are featured on The Book Depository's web site

I'm tickled pink to have been chosen by major online retailer, The Book Depository, as one of their Authors of the Month to appear on their Featured Crime and Thriller Page. I have a special tab in the crime/thrillers section (Pauline Rowson) where my crime and thriller novels appear alongside fellow crime writer, Graham Hurley,…

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Added by Pauline Rowson on March 9, 2010 at 11:02pm — No Comments

Writer's Prescription: Butt in Chair

You have an idea. Maybe you have the first three chapters done. But somehow, the rest isn't coming. Is it writer's block? Is it bad plotting? Will it ever become a novel?

Experts everywhere have one answer: butt in chair. You have to write. You have to sit there. You have to keep at it. Will it be good? Maybe, maybe not. But you can't fix it if it isn't there.

Write a whole story. Once you're written "The End", then you can worry about whether it's good or not and…

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Added by Peg Herring on March 9, 2010 at 8:56pm — 4 Comments

The Eye of the Beholder (32)

By the time they’d finished talking both Tabitha and Cary were exhausted. She offered him the sofa so that he wouldn’t have to make the drive home and possibly fall asleep at the wheel, or though she didn’t say it to him, get into a fight with Hugh because he was coming home so late.

Cary had accepted gratefully, telling her to wake him when she got up and he’d drive her to the hospital. As it was the weekend he didn’t have to go into work so he planned on spending the whole day… Continue

Added by Edith Glass on March 9, 2010 at 8:48am — No Comments

Gangs

Gang expert gives us a second look at the emergence of prison gangs and how their tentacles
reach into our communities. A growing time bomb.

http://hookembookem.blogspot.com/

Added by Mark Young on March 9, 2010 at 2:40am — No Comments

WEB Structure in Short Story & The Novel

Story Web Structure to “stay within reason” for the Novel & Short

by Robert W. Walker

When is a story going to get unwieldy and out of your…

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Added by robert walker on March 8, 2010 at 11:48pm — 2 Comments

AMERICAN CHRONICLE: Norm Goldman of Bookpleasure.com reviews CROSSROADS

Visit the review....thank you...

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/143793

Steven Nedelton…

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Added by STEVEN NEDELTON on March 8, 2010 at 7:30am — No Comments

CLAN DESTINE ... Book and Author Portal

I’m the latest Clanner to join the horde at Clan Destine Book and Author Portal.

And I’m awaiting my diabolical initiation as I pass through this new Threshold.

Clan Destine is a website dedicated to LOVERS of Genre Fiction ─ CRIME, Thriller/Adventure, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Horror and TRUE CRIME

I’m so over-awed by the incredible talent unearthed on this site.

Check out my revealing BIO in the Writers section.…

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Added by Karen Tyrrell on March 8, 2010 at 6:01am — No Comments

The Eye of the Beholder (31)

“Did it bother you that Pres made porn movies?”

“Yeah, some, but I figured it was his life and if that worked for him it wasn’t up to me to say anything.”

“Maybe you should have Cary. Or were you afraid he’d take it the wrong way and think you were, humm not sure jealous is the right word but you know what I’m getting at.”

“That I cared because I cared for him as more than a friend.” A frown creased his forehead.

Tabitha nodded. “Think about that… Continue

Added by Edith Glass on March 8, 2010 at 3:00am — No Comments

Literary reviews: If you can’t say something nice…

Kingsley Amis said that “a bad review may spoil your breakfast, but you shouldn’t allow it to spoil your lunch.” That’s because Kingsley, bless his vindictive old heart, was probably too busy spoiling someone else’s. Believe me, a bad review leaves a bad taste all day long.

That’s not because of any insecurity about my writing. If a review is negative or even mildly snarky, I know the reviewer got it wrong. It’s the mere existence of negative thoughts about me…

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Added by Matt Rees on March 8, 2010 at 1:15am — 2 Comments

Michael Genelin at Scene of the Crime

Slovakian Intrigues

March 7, 2010 by Scene of the Crime

Today we are fortunate to have Michael Genelin—author, lawyer, and international consultant on governmental reform. Michael is the author

of three novels in the…

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Added by J. Sydney Jones on March 7, 2010 at 3:35pm — No Comments

The Eye of the Beholder (30)

“Does Hugh love you Cary?”

“I suppose so Tabby from the way he acts, though he’s never come out and said so.”

“This sounds more like an arrangement of convenience than anything else if you want my take on it.”

Cary winced but couldn’t deny what she’d said. “It does sort of, doesn’t it?”

Tabitha nodded as she got up again to get the coffee. “Cream, sugar?”

“Sugar thanks.” He put in three spoonfuls when she set it and his coffee in front of… Continue

Added by Edith Glass on March 7, 2010 at 3:38am — No Comments

Noir webcomic "Night at the Western"

Novelist and short story writer Ray Nayler has a webcomic up at Zuda called NIGHT AT THE WESTERN. Art by Cesar Sebastian. The winner of this month's contest gets to have a regular series there. I'm a big fan of Ray's short stories and would love to see more adapted. Check it out. Vote, if you like what you see....

http://zudacomics.com/competition/results

Walter

Added by Walter Conley on March 7, 2010 at 2:16am — No Comments

A Great Site for Readers

Today’s book signing is at Borders Express in Fair Oaks Mall - 11713 Lee Jackson Hwy. Fairfax, VA - from 1 pm to 5 pm. But if you miss me there you can find my novels at BookDaily, a web site that offers book samples to book lovers.

At BookDaily you can read the first chapter of more than 60,000 titles. You can browse all you want, and if you set up an account you can get first chapters by email, along with regular updates from your favorite genres and…

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Added by Austin S. Camacho on March 6, 2010 at 11:38pm — No Comments

The elusive, graceful future of journalism: Nina Burleigh's Writing Life

A NPR foreign correspondent chum used to recount a list of seven ways for journalists to grow old with grace. His premise, which is self-evident to anyone who’s been a reporter, was that daily news was an undignified thing to be doing in your 40s. I can’t remember the whole of the list. It included writing op-eds for your newspaper (which seemed more or less like retirement), teaching journalism at a university (also retirement, but somewhat scorned by other hacks), and maybe the…

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Added by Matt Rees on March 6, 2010 at 10:34pm — No Comments

Why I chose the characters and setting for "Color Me Dead"

Some friends of mine, after reading Color Me Dead asked me why, after chosing DC as a setting for the story, I didn't focus on political intrigue or espionage as do many authors who set their stories in the nation's capitol. Well, I've read many of those stories, and while they're great tales, I have always felt that the average Joes who inhabit DC get left out. The common people who make up 90% of the city are no more than background or walk-ons in most stories. Consider this, though:… Continue

Added by Charles A. Ray on March 6, 2010 at 8:45pm — No Comments