Category: my life
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Can Save the Cat and the Snowflake Method be Used Together? Simultaneously?
I’ve taken most of the summer off from writing blog posts to concentrate on my writing projects. Now summer vacations are over, and school is back in session, I’ve decided to get back into posting. Right click to enlarge. To see step-by-step instructions on using this graphic, click here. A thought occurred to me: as…
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Friday’s Findings: Wildcat
I recently saw the movie Wildcat, which was directed by Ethan Hawke. Wildcat told the story of Flannery O’Connor who navigated her writing career as she dealt with lupus. I could identify with O’Connor who had to endure the obstacle of her stories being misinterpreted. Everyone wants a story to be pretty. O’Connor wrote dark…
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Some Books on Writing Craft
A book on fiction writing is ideal because you’re getting a course in writing at your fingertips. You can read or listen to the book at your own convenience. And best of all, you don’t have to take a final. Unless finishing your story is the final. Anyway, here are some books on the writing…
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No Filter Words: An Easy Way to Improve Your Writing
I am always looking for quick and easy ways to improve my writing. I know there are plenty of long and hard ways: years of practice; studying writing of established authors; hours of self-editing and so much more. So, let’s talk about a relatively quick way to give your writing more punch: Get rid of…
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RIP Vernor Vinge
Vernor Vinge wrote one of my all-time favorite science fiction novels: A Fire Upon the Deep. This story is filled with the most original alien species I’ve come across in reading sf. With deep space chase scenes, swashbuckling action from planet to planet, Fire defines space opera like no other. Photo by Eduraw Pro: https://www.pexels.com/photo/lago-de-estrellas-20761228/…
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Friday’s Findings: Doing Whatever It Takes
The title of today’s blog entry refers to an update on my writing progress. I’ve been stuck for several weeks. I’ve been having trouble finishing even one scene. I decided to take action. In my science fiction novel, my characters spend about twenty scenes on a planet called Zonvillon. I had already written a couple…
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Friday’s Findings: Storyboarding Is for Those Who Think Visually
Storyboarding is a way to outline your novel. I love this idea! The storyboard concept is borrowed from the animation industry. It’s a way to plan out your novel or short story using panels of illustrations. Here are some tips: It doesn’t have to be complicated. You can draw stick figures if it helps. If…
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I’m Putting a Little Variety in My Reading List
I am always trying to expand what genres I read. This next year requires an experiment in my reading. I am reading a book from each of the sub-lists that follow. I plan to go down the list and start over when I complete a circuit. I hope to get through each category twice. There will…
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Friday’s Findings: Keep It Simple
The best principle to keep in mind when it comes to making writing goals for the new year is this: keep it simple. I’ve broken my writing goals down in three ways: There. It’s that simple. I’ll come back here at the end of 2024 to see how I’m doing. Here are some links about…
Andrew M. Friday 