Natasha Deen's Blog, page 89

Writing Challenge: Day #11

Sadly, nothing on the page but a bad headache, regret, and the realization some days you gotta do nothing so the next day you can do something.

Thursday Time: Singing in the Rain

Was listening to Gene Kelly's Singing in the Rain and the sheer audacity of his optimism struck me.  Singing in the rain?! SINGING?! I don't know where it was raining for him (though I suspect it must have been Alberta since he talks about the clouds chasing everyone away, and as every Albertan knows, the rain here is ice-cold and hard—no one sings in it. Curses in it, maybe).

But I couldn't help but think of what he was doing: in a bad situation finding a moment of celebration. Turning the ...

Writing Challenge: Day #10

75-100 words of scene planning.

Blech.

At Reviews By Molly

Talking about character motivation at how to test their goals.

Wednesday Whoa: 4 Stars to Dragons of Darkness

Antonia Michaelis' novel is magical. No other word for it. Softly written, beautifully told, it's the kind of story that lingers in your heart long after you've turned the final page.

Writing Challenge: Day #9

327 words. Not as good as yesterday, better than nothing.

Technique Tuesday: Writing Lessons from Enrique

I say it all the time, "It's not what you say, it's HOW you say it." Proof is whomever wrote the script for the Enrique Iglesias video Dirty Dancer.

First off, super catchy song, but what cracks me up is the visual.

While the lyrics intimate the girl is in charge, the reality of the video versus the reality of, well, reality can't be argued. The video's pulsating beats, dark colors, sexy shadows. The reality is no man who sits alone in a night club watching women pole dance is...

Find me at the Book Connection

Where I'm interviewed on the writing process, What Happens in Vegas, and the importance of chocolate.

Writing Challenge: Day #8

Lucky #8 comes in at 8 pages.

Yes.

Monday Mechanics: Clauses

Wow. So, reading up to do a Monday Mechanics post and realized there are terms being tossed around that I don't remember. So, refresher for those of us no longer in secondary school.

An independent clause has a subject, verb, and expresses a complete thought: I ran to the bank.

A dependent clause has a subject and verb, but does not express a complete thought.

To tell the difference, check for dependent clause markers (words that tell you that you're in DC zone): after, although, as, as...