Though I did not write another 1,000 words since I reported yesterday, I did write 570 words to finish up the first draft of my third picture book in the Gator McBumpypants and friends series: Gator McBumpypants in Dee Dee Makes Three. That brings the weekend total to 2,014! By my math, I made itContinue reading “Gator McBumpypants in Dee Dee Makes Three First Draft Thanks To A Thousand Words A Day”
Author Archives: marialberg
Dee Dee The Duck and A Thousand Words A Day
The last month has been very busy in my writing life. I am happy to say that I reached my goal of sending out a draft of my novel to first readers on August 28th. I have already received some invaluable feedback and I am excited for more over the next couple of months. InContinue reading “Dee Dee The Duck and A Thousand Words A Day”
Tips and Tricks: Creating Revision Goals and Preparing For First Readers.
I apologize for my time away. I needed a break and an adventure to fill me up with new energy, so I could return to you with insight. I can finally see an endpoint to my revisions, at least an endpoint that will allow me to send a draft to my carefully chosen first readersContinue reading “Tips and Tricks: Creating Revision Goals and Preparing For First Readers.”
A Happy Discovery – Free Indirect Discourse: I Was Already Using It, But Now I Know When and How to Use It Correctly
I first saw the term Free Indirect Discourse while reading the chapter on Flannery O’Connor in Write Like The Masters by William Cane. Cane describes Free Indirect Discourse (FID) as “A popular technique with good writers, FID involves narrating a scene in language that contains some elements from the lexicon of one of the charactersContinue reading “A Happy Discovery – Free Indirect Discourse: I Was Already Using It, But Now I Know When and How to Use It Correctly”
Creative Similes: The Essence of Your Unique Voice
Simile – a figure of speech in which two unlike things are explicitly compared. Comparisons and associations are how we help others to see the world from our unique perspectives. Ralph Cornish, a fellow writer and friend, recently challenged our critique group to write a short piece consisting only of similes. To tackle the challenge,Continue reading “Creative Similes: The Essence of Your Unique Voice”
Part Two The Worrying Wave of Weak Verbs: a cautionary tale of the murderous search for to be, to have, to do, to get, to go and to make
In my last post, I shared an amazing discovery, a little book full of helpful tips called The Curious Case of the Misplaced Modifier by Bonnie Trenga. At the end of exploring Chapter Seven, you’ll recall I encountered a “there was” problem in my manuscript. After my battle with “there was”, I moved on toContinue reading “Part Two The Worrying Wave of Weak Verbs: a cautionary tale of the murderous search for to be, to have, to do, to get, to go and to make”
The Worrying Workload of Weak Writing Part One: the discovery of the stretched-out sentences.
Over the last two years, I thought I had read every book my local library system offered on writing: instructional, anecdotal, genre specific, technique specific–the works. Last time I went to the library, however, a cute little book I hadn’t noticed before jumped out at me: The Curious Case Of The Misplaced Modifier by BonnieContinue reading “The Worrying Workload of Weak Writing Part One: the discovery of the stretched-out sentences.”
Strange Pleasures Part Two Update
Yesterday, I updated (wrote the post that went with the picture I accidentally published) Strange Pleasures Part Two. I assumed the update would go out to the readers who follow this blog, but a friend told me it did not. I enjoyed writing it and would love some reader feedback, so hopefully this little noteContinue reading “Strange Pleasures Part Two Update”
Strange Pleasures Part Two *
To continue my study of strange pleasures, I took to the web in search of others’ ideas and insights on the subject. I found some interesting ideas at Wooden Boat Forum where a discussion of enjoying things from the past brought up the strange pleasures of: cutting grass with a scythe; doing laundry by hand;Continue reading “Strange Pleasures Part Two *”
Strange Pleasures and Hedonic Motivation
Spring has sprung here in the great Northwest and my interests have turned to fun and joy. Last weekend was all about planting the garden and Monday I inflated my kayak and had the lake all to myself. The inflatable kayak, acquired two years ago, suddenly became a brilliant purchase as the lake (actually aContinue reading “Strange Pleasures and Hedonic Motivation”
Experience Writing 