Author, Compulsively Readable Thrillers
In dialogue, quotation marks go AFTER the period or question mark: “Did you pick up the things we needed?” Jim said. “I didn’t have time,” she said. “You’re kidding. You had four hours!” “I was writing.” She smiled. If you forget, just pick up a book or a newspaper to check the format. Apparently, it’s … Read more
You don’t need three adjectives before a noun. You don’t even need two. Adverbs as well. Look for opportunities to delete redundancies and streamline your prose. A lot of this fine-tuning happens during revision.
Whether you have a Motocycle Mama, A Mother’s Day heroine like Rebecca De Mornay, or everyone’s “Mommy Dearest,” her day will be here soon. Why settle for the usual flowers, candy, or lunch to show your love? Help her escape the tedium of life—with a good book. As it happens (ahem), I have a suggestion, … Read more
Here is where I sound like your fourth grade teacher. Grammar IS important. But it’s not rocket science. You can learn all those pesky rules (and English has more rules than most languages). Why? Because knowing the rules will make you a better writer. When you know proper grammar, it’s easier to eliminate dangling participles, … Read more
I used to be really disciplined. If I didn’t have a training session (I used to train executives to be better speakers), I’d write early in the morning before I took the kids to school. I would work out, come home, and write some more. By lunchtime I was done. I’d spend the afternoon editing. … Read more
A common mistake writers make is this: “I was afraid of the man that held a gun in his hand.” Because “man” refers to a person, it should read: “I was afraid of the man who held a gun in his hand.” (Actually, that could be shortened to read “I was afraid of the man with a … Read more
Do you know when to use a semi-colon instead of a colon? When commas are mandatory? You should. It makes a huge difference in how a reader absorbs your prose. Punctuation tells your reader when to pause or when to race to the end of the sentence or paragraph for the payoff. Help your reader … Read more
We are taught to use all our senses when we write narrative. But sight and sound usually predominate. Personally, I believe the sense of smell is our most powerful sense. We all relate to the stench of garbage, or the aroma of Chanel No. 5. Smell adds a unique element to our writing, one which … Read more
Long, languorous sentences make it difficult for the reader to follow, unless he or she is a very patient reader. Most readers aren’t, sorry to say. They’re interested in story. Not the prose you’ve so carefully crafted. So, make it easy for your readers. Limit your sentences to easily understood thoughts. Each sentence should add … Read more
Some of you know I write a column for Women’s Voices Magazine. Happily, it’s in their “Enjoy” section, which means I get to write about books and movies I’ve loved — every month. Usually they’re not new films or books, but they are centered on a theme. Recently, I wrote about Movie Musicals. Since April … Read more