M.L. Desir's Blog, page 62
June 7, 2017
Quotes to Write By – Day 22
So far, I’ve written the first five chapters (one chapter behind) of Moondust. And so far, all of the ideas that I’ve created and outlined seem to fit well. They seem to make sense, heighten tension, and flesh out the characters.
Of course when I’ve completed this first draft that may change. And that’s okay. Why?
Because ideas are versatile and recyclable. Author Tony Hillerman got it right when he said:
Quote #22 “A writer is like a bag lady going through life with a sack and a pointed sti...
June 5, 2017
Quotes to Write By – Day 21
I’ve been writing for a while and each day I realize that there’s so much more I need to learn. I remember over a decade ago when my most favorite professor, Dr. Byrd told me that I had a unique writing voice. He pointed out to me that I needed to hold onto it, to finesse it, and to be true to it.
I felt conflicted. And a little confused. I also felt a great weight of fear. I didn’t know exactly what my writing voice was. It’s not uncommon to be so close to something and not fully see it. I w...
Being black in a white skin: students with albinism battle prejudice
REBLOGGED from an article by Eleanor Ross. This is priceless information for a topic I find important and relevant.
People with albinism often isolate themselves to avoid discrimination. Shutterstock
by Eleanor Ross
Myths and stereotypes about albinism abound. People with the condition are called derogatory names, like inkawu – the Nguni term for white baboon – and isishawa, a Zulu word for a person who is cursed. They are stared at, and must field ignorant questions.
Some beli...
June 4, 2017
Quotes to Write By – Day 20
In an earlier post of the “Quotes to Write By” series I cited Mervin Block’s quote “nouns are the bones that give a sentence body. But verbs are the muscles that make it go.”
Well, let’s have a little discussion about adjectives and adverbs.
[image error]Twain
Believe it or not, these descriptive parts of speech can do a lot of damage to a decent sentence, paragraph, or scene. Mark Twain advises “if you catch an adjective, kill it.” And Stephen King admonishes that adverbs are not a writer’s friend.
[image error]Ki...
June 3, 2017
Quotes to Write By – Day 19
Earlier today I attended the critique group that I belong to. I also pushed myself to write the first three chapters of Moondust, an upper middle-grade novel that is one serving size of Nightmare-on-Elm-Street-horror, a tablespoon of Wan and Whannell’s Saw, a generous sprinkling of middle school drama, and two dashes of dream god fantasy.
A visually mathematical representation of my creation:
[image error]+[image error]+[image error]+[image error]= Moondust!Now, it’s 11:31 pm. I wanted to go to bed, but I promised myself that I would share an...
June 2, 2017
Quotes to Write By – Day 18
Last Saturday, I attended my critique group, Pinellas Writers, with a mission:
To read and get valuable feedback on a picture book that I wanted to submit to a major publishing house. Ironically, as I read the manuscript I couldn’t stop shaking or sweating. I held the podium until my fingers ached and grew slick with perspiration. It’s ironic because I’m a reading teacher and I spend hours day after day reading to my students, engaging them in discussions, and so much more.
But reading in f...
Quotes to Write By – Day 17
I love watching shows and reading books that involve a lot of conflict, tension, and suspense.
“I love reading books where nothing happens and the characters just stand around doing nothing.” Said No One EverLikewise, as a writer I want to make sure that I give my readers what they want and screaming for more.
For example, let’s consider this quote by John LeCarre, “the cat sat on the mat is not a story. The cat sat on the other cat’s mat is a story.”
Today’s main quote delves into deeper ex...
June 1, 2017
Quotes to Write By – Day 16
Two Quotes today.
They’re just both so wonderful. I couldn’t decide which one to do, so I chose both.
Oh, and life happened yesterday, so I was unable to post one. 
May 30, 2017
Quotes to Write By – Day 15
Today’s quote is credited to Samuel L. Delaney, American author, literary critic, and professor. One of the perks about doing this series is that it gives me the opportunity to learn about authors I’m not familiar with. 
May 29, 2017
Quotes to Write By – Day 14
The following quote comes from Daniel Quinn, cultural critic and former publisher of educational text.
[image error]Daniel Quinn
I regret that I didn’t use more of what “I know” when I first started writing. I regret not realizing how important these succulent bits and pieces were. I regret not realizing sooner that just because what I knew and cared about or found amusing and worth reading matter even though my experiences weren’t being requested by publishers or agents.
For instance, I regret not us...
