Just because you know my name doesn’t mean you know my story. That is a slightly enhanced version of a quote attributed to Jonathan Anthony Burkett. “You know my name, not my story.” Sometimes that’s where I am when writing a new story. Names are important to me as I try to get to know my characters. I have a …
Story First Line Fun
A novel needs a good first line. It needs every line to be good but that first line in your story needs to grab a reader’s interest. Those few words need to be a flashing pointer toward the rest of the story. A good first line can also help a writer dive into the story. Most writers, including me, work …
Talking to Kids about Writing
Tomorrow I’m going to an elementary school to talk about writing to around three hundred kids. Would that strike fear in your heart? I can understand if you say yes. But the teachers won’t desert me, I’m sure. Almost sure. Pretty sure. No, actually I’m very sure. LOL. And it’s fun talking to kids about reading and writing. I’ll let …
A Writer's Dream
August 26, 1964 Jocie Brooke here reporting from Hollyhill, Kentucky. Do you see what’s in the picture? A typewriter! My very own typewriter. Mr. Atkinson, the lawyer in the office across the street from us, bought his secretary a new typewriter and let me buy her old one for twenty dollars. I had to break my piggy bank, but who …