Categotry Archives: writing
Suzie’s House 32: Respect
“I’m going out,” Ben said as he headed for the front door of his dad’s apartment. “Out? Out where?” Dad came out of the kitchen with a dishrag in his hands, which was a real laugh because he hardly ever bothered to do things like wash the dishes. “I don’t know. Just out.” Ben put his hand on the doorknob. He waited a moment, shoulders tense and breath tight, expecting an explosion. “Seems to me you should stick around more. […]
Suzie’s House 31: A Sympathetic Ear
“Dad? Can I talk to you?” Ben sat on one of the old aluminum-tube kitchen chairs and braced his arms on the top of the cracked-linoleum kitchen table. His father liked to joke about all his furniture being OTC – Off The Curb. Ben didn’t think it was so funny. He didn’t really want to have this conversation with his father. He wanted it with his mother. Apparently he wasn’t going to get a chance since Dad wouldn’t let him […]
Suzie at the Crossroads
Every so often I come to a point where I could easily take the Suzie’s House story in a couple of different directions. I am at such a point right now. About a month ago Ash asked for a love scene. I promised to deliver one as quickly as I could arrange it. I believe she was looking for something between Miranda and Vin, but it turns out the first opportunity for one is between Suzie and Drew. Because my […]
Suzie’s House 30: The Confessional
Suzie looked so sweet even as she pulled her lower lip in between her teeth and wrinkled her brow in concern. She wore her hair pulled back in a ponytail. Her thin arms crossed in front of her as if she were cold though it must be nearly 80 in the room. She looked small and fragile to him. Drew put his arm across the back of the love seat, using it to turn himself toward her. He wasn’t making […]
How to Reduce Ossification in Writing
For me the most effective way of getting over ossification is simply to give it some time. When I’ve finished another project and come back I often see the story with fresh eyes. This allows me to get over the firm belief nothing really needs to be changed, and to see clearly what should be preserved Unluckily people like Ericka aren’t always going to have time because they are under contract. I think most of them are going to […]
Ossification in Writing
What do I mean when I say something I’m writing has ossified? I mean I’ve gotten too ridged in my thinking to be able to work with the material anymore. There is a tendency for writers to suffer from the Written in Stone Syndrome. I know I’m not the only one because my professors discussed it. The Written in Stone Syndrome is the tendency for a writer to think whatever ended up on the page shouldn’t be changed because that’s […]
Suzie’s House 29: Guilting the Lilly
Suzie leaned forward, her elbows resting on the top of her desk and her face resting in her hands. She heaved a sigh. Everything she had done today she had done poorly. Making mistakes didn’t really bother her. Not that much, anyway. But dishonorable mistakes haunted Suzie with guilt and regret. Today she’d made a ton of them. Taking the recipe file from Miranda might qualify. But Suzie wasn’t about to remove it from the locked drawer in her desk […]
Building a Web Site
As an unpublished author, what do you put on your web site? I feel so silly pushing myself this way, but want to do something. Everyone says it’s important to have an Internet presence, and it’s never too soon to get started, but really, I’m not so sure. If editors and agents don’t bother to look at a writer’s web site, then it seems like a lot of work. On the other hand, I think it helps other writers see where […]
Suzie’s House 28: Hey Babe
“Hey, Babe. Why don’t you come on over here and sit down?” Vin patted the seat next to him on the couch. He had the remote in his off hand, the one set gingerly on the armrest. “Shouldn’t you keep your arm in the sling?” Miranda approached cautiously. Knowing Vin, he would crack a joke about her cooking now. She shouldn’t feel so shaky, as if the least little thing might break her. Not with Vin. Vin was just a […]
Suzie’s House 27: The Taste of Defeat
“Cloves?” Suzie tried not to sound strangled, but her throat closed down over the taste of spaghetti sauce with enough cloves to coat a ham roast. A large one. The flavor of cloves, tomato, and hamburger shouldn’t have been so devastating, but every part of her from tongue to toe revolted against the sweet, numbing peculiarity of it. “Couldn’t you find the garlic?” Vin’s jaw closed with an audible clack. He looked like he couldn’t decide if he should laugh, […]
Kissing the Blarney Stone
How do you make yourself write? I don’t need to know for myself. At this late stage in the game I’m pretty comfortable with writer’s block and getting around it. I need to know so I have something worth saying to those who are suffering. When you have something to write about, but it may not be real clear yet, and you have the time, and the word processor is launched with a blank page waiting, how do you get […]
Suzie’s House 26: The New Chef
Miranda had a cast iron skillet on the stove with hamburger and tomato sauce bubbling away when Suzie walked in the door. Miranda could have swooned with relief. She’d been on the brink of giving up on her attempt at dinner, but she really, really did not want to order pizza again. She wanted to surprise Vin with her ability to produce an edible meal. . “It smells, um… interesting. What are you making?” Suzie set her purse down with […]
Suzie’s House 25: The Times, They Are A Changing
The beatific smile on Vin’s face took Miranda’s breath away. He was always charming in his boyish way, but the triumphant joy on his face as he sat on the edge of the bed made her painfully aware of how appealing he could be. Stupid man. “I’m ready. Let’s go home.” He stood, drawing Miranda’s gaze from head to toe. “There’s blood on your shirt. Is that a hole?!” “If I wait for one of you to get around to […]
When Do You Show Your Work?
Do you keep your writing to yourself until the entire book is done? Or do you like to be cheered on as you go? Do you write to your vision, to your audience, or both? My first three attempts at writing a book went bust. The second attempt in particular was spectacular because I spent twenty years on it, and never once got close to the end. I showed it to anyone who would sit still long enough for me […]
Suzie’s House 24: A Mother’s Love
Suzie thrust her arm out from under the covers, feeling for the snooze button on the alarm clock. Eyes still closed, she touched the hard plastic, pressing on the button on top, but the ringing kept coming and going. Not until she lifted her head from the pillow, eyes blurry, did the ringing stop, and it was followed immediately with “Hello?” in a deep, masculine voice. . Someone had answered the phone. As Vin was still in the hospital, and […]
