Story Fix: Transform Your Novel from Broken to Brilliant by Larry Brooks is intended to help authors “reinvigorate” rejected novels, but I found it lacking in tangible instruction and full of discouragement. Why I picked it up: I was looking through Writing Voice: The Complete Guide to Creating a Presence on the Page and EngagingContinue reading “Craft Book Review: Story Fix”
Author Archives: marialberg
Review: A Compendium Of Collective Nouns
Over the weekend, I went to West Seattle and had brunch with an old friend. After we ate, we walked around the shops. In a home furnishings store, I noticed a beautiful book and had to have it. So I am now the proud owner of: A Compendium of Collective Nouns: From an Armory ofContinue reading “Review: A Compendium Of Collective Nouns”
Craft Book Review: The Magic Words by Cheryl B. Klein
The Magic Words: Writing Great Books for Children and Young Adults by Cheryl B. Klein is a great book for writers who are ready to take their manuscript to the next level. As an editor for Scholastic, Cheryl has experience that makes her an authority on the subject of revision and editing MG and YAContinue reading “Craft Book Review: The Magic Words by Cheryl B. Klein”
Gobolinks and Blottentots
You may recognize these inkblots from my last post. The image on the left looked to me like two teddy bears playing with a ball from the moment I made it. The image on the right, however, originally looked like an angelic figure or winged creature (turned 180°), but when I looked at it again,Continue reading “Gobolinks and Blottentots”
The Final Days of 2017 Day 26: Fun With Klecksography (and glitter glue)!
Now that Christmas is over–and we survived; deep sigh of relief–odd ornaments no longer fit the bill for visual prompts. I woke up asking, what should guide us into the new year? My brain said, “Rorschach tests.” Why? You may ask my brain. Because inkblots stimulate creative imagery and Klecksography could enhance our poems.Continue reading “The Final Days of 2017 Day 26: Fun With Klecksography (and glitter glue)!”
Final Days of 2017 #FD2017 Day 25: Surviving The Rare White Christmas!
For our final odd ornament visual prompt I found a gift from 1996 still in its box. The box had some interesting info. I’m loving the name Grzegorz. I think the ball is painted with drums, but that’s a guess. From this view, it could be stylized black holes. #vss very short story While herContinue reading “Final Days of 2017 #FD2017 Day 25: Surviving The Rare White Christmas!”
Final Days of 2017 Day 24: This Crazy Cat
Yesterday, was the annual family white elephant exchange and after everyone left, this crazy cat was left behind. It is now part of my odd decoration collection and today’s inspiration. #vss very short story Jenna thought it was so cute when her new Siamese cat jumped into her hat box where she kept her sewingContinue reading “Final Days of 2017 Day 24: This Crazy Cat”
Final Days of 2017 Day 23: Yeti Paws
This has been hanging on the inside doorknob of my bedroom door ever since I received it from my Swedish “sister”. God Jul means Merry Christmas in Swedish. I am not sure what the fur is, but I’m going to go ahead and say it was made from Yeti paws. #vss very short story HannahContinue reading “Final Days of 2017 Day 23: Yeti Paws”
Final Days of 2017 Day 22: Skeletons In The Christmas Tree
During #StoryDam chat on Twitter last night, Tui Snider (@TuiSnider) mentioned having a black Xmas tree with skeletons on it. She inspired me to pull this beauty out of her box and let her fly. Thank you Tui. And she’s posable! #vss very short story When Horace hiked through the snowy forest and chopped downContinue reading “Final Days of 2017 Day 22: Skeletons In The Christmas Tree”
All The Colors Of Santa And Snowmen: Final Days of 2017 Day 21
I found these wonderful little light covers yesterday. If I hadn’t been playing with pink flamingos the other day, I wouldn’t have recognized what they were. The rainbow santas and snowmen will probably be riding pink flamingos for Christmas at my house. #vss very short story In all the hustle and bustle of the AnnualContinue reading “All The Colors Of Santa And Snowmen: Final Days of 2017 Day 21”
Experience Writing 