Storytelling

Stuff about telling stories

04

Feb'15

Examining Description

Beginning writers often write description without stopping to think, when they should take their time and let the exposition flow. Instead of simply writing, “Tim walked toward the door, then stopped. He freaked out at what he saw. He trembled. Then he ran.” One could write ...

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13

Jan'15

Gifts of the Boneyard

In my own work, there is nothing I have struggled with more than the repeated need for revision. I have put aside a nascent novel for months at a time because I felt overwhelmed by what was required to get it into shape. Part of the difficulty is that we must be both the creator and the physician of our writing, which are quite different skills and require quite different states of mind. The expressive exuberance of creating is what gets me to my desk. But the humble, open, unknowing that I must bring to the work of revision is where I find my strength. In the boneyard. Let me explain …

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07

Jan'15

Oh, the places you will go … in your sleep

Sleep has always been a cruel mistress for me. I love sweet, dreamy slumber, but sleep has not always returned …

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31

Dec'14

Face your fears, shake them off and move on—with a slightly quicker pace

In a moment of courage, or fear, or madness, I spun around, and in a single moment, stutter-stepped in the direction of my attacker, shook my fist in a display of dominance and screamed at the dog in the most Alpha voice I could muster, "Git the hell outta here, dog!"

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12

Nov'14

ParaFAIL: How I got jerked 450 feet in the air via giant wedgy

This is the story of how I went cursing, hurling and hurdling toward a horrified group of tourists at about 30 miles per hour—then belly-flopped on a speedboat and swore off water sports for good.

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05

Nov'14

Marketing writers, do you know what your readers like to EAT?

When serving marketing messages to your readers for dinner, you must never confuse the food for the plate.

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