Author Archives: marialberg

2023 A to Z Challenge Theme Reveal

Last year’s A to Z Challenge became a year long focus that changed how I approach art, poetry, and writing fiction. I like to combine the A to Z Challenge with the daily poetry prompts from NaPoWriMo and Poem-a-Day, so last year I picked the simple topic of “Abstract Nouns.” Abstract nouns are nouns thatContinue reading “2023 A to Z Challenge Theme Reveal”

Character-Building Challenge Day 10: The Last Day of the Challenge

For day ten of the first Writer’s Digest Character-Building Challenge the prompt is to put together a character profile for one of our characters. Here are the guidelines of what to include: Davenna Dale Byron is an obsessively-fit upper-middle-class housewife and mother who just turned forty. Her husband is a workaholic who travels often. HerContinue reading “Character-Building Challenge Day 10: The Last Day of the Challenge”

RNLN Attempt 9: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

This week I enjoyed a fun read: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. I brought this popular mystery home from the library and read the whole thing in one sitting, reading into the night. I laughed out loud and almost cried. So I thought this would be a good week to start re-reading TheContinue reading “RNLN Attempt 9: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman”

Character-Building Challenge Day 9: The Best or the Worst

For the eve of the end of the first Writer’s Digest Character-Building Challenge the prompt is “pick a character and share either their best or worst moment ever.” Since I looked at Davenna yesterday, let’s take a look at the best moment of Merle’s life so far in his own words: I think the veryContinue reading “Character-Building Challenge Day 9: The Best or the Worst”

Character-Building Challenge Day 8: Wants and Hurdles

For the eighth day of the first Writer’s Digest Character-Building Challenge the prompt is “pick a character and reveal their greatest want and the main hurdle standing in their way.” What does Davenna want and what’s standing in her way? Davenna wants the romance she reads about in her books. She wants excitement, adventure, somethingContinue reading “Character-Building Challenge Day 8: Wants and Hurdles”

Character-Building Challenge Day 7: Meeting Place

For the seventh day of the first Writer’s Digest Character-Building Challenge the prompt is “pick a place and have two or more of your characters meet and interact with each other.” Merle smelled spiced wild flowers and felt a vibration on the make-shift bar. He smiled then looked up at her wondering if she wouldContinue reading “Character-Building Challenge Day 7: Meeting Place”

Character-Building Challenge Day 6: Love or Hate

For the sixth day of the first Writer’s Digest Character-Building Challenge the prompt is to create someone who loves or despises one of your characters. Roger Byron knew that Davenna was a romantic. At first he liked it, how she made everything about love and sex and fantasy. It was hot when they were young,Continue reading “Character-Building Challenge Day 6: Love or Hate”

Character-Building Challenge Day 5: Making Friends

For the fifth day of the first Writer’s Digest Character-Building Challenge the prompt is to create a friend, ally, or sidekick for one of the characters. Sonia Havana Cashion is Davenna Dale Byron’s best friend, or at least Davenna likes to think so. Sonia lives in the big house at the top of the hill.Continue reading “Character-Building Challenge Day 5: Making Friends”

Character-Building Challenge Day 4: What do they think of each other?

For the fourth day of the first Writer’s Digest Character-Building Challenge the prompt is “sit both the characters you interrogated down and have them share what and how they think about each other.” What Davenna thinks of Merle: He is intriguing. I see him at the cafe in the bookstore. I like to sit andContinue reading “Character-Building Challenge Day 4: What do they think of each other?”