Kaye Lynne Booth's Blog: Writing to be Read, page 13

Everyone is a Critic: “The Island”

I passed up the 2005 film, The Island, many times because it created incongruencies in my mind. The title suggested to me, something along the lines of Castaway, or Robinson Caruso, or maybe Lord of the Flies, yet the cover image suggested a futuristic civilization, with nothing tropical about it. It is, in fact, a dystopian science fiction tale set in a futuristic world. Whatever you think the island in this story is, I promise you it is not.

In a world of survivors from a catastrophic event are given the hope of a paradise on the island, but only those selected in the lottery are granted the privilege of going. But we soon suspect that something is amiss when one survivor, Lincoln Six Echo (Ewen McGregor), has the intelligence to see that some things don’t quite add up, and the curiosity to question what they are being told. Just as he discovers the truth about who they all really are, and the truth about the island, his friend, Jordon Two Delta (Scarlett Johansson), is chosen in the lottery, and Lincoln is forced to race to prevent her from going and escape with the knowledge he has discovered.

The rest of the movie takes on the pace of an action thriller as the powers that be try to recover them before they can tell the world what they know. And the action is really pretty good. The story was engaging and entertaining holding my interest all the way to the quite satisfying ending. I was glad that I finally decided to give it a try.

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About Kaye Lynne Booth

For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and her Time-Travel Adventure novel, The Rock Star & The Outlaw,as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource. Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.

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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.

___________________________________

This post is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press .

Midnight Roost: Weird and Creepy Stories: 20 authors bring your nightmares to life in 23 stories of ghosts, paranormal phenomenon and the horror from the dark crevasses of their minds. Stories of stalkers, both human and supernatural, possession and occult rituals, alien visitations of the strange kind, and ghostly tales that will give you goosebumps. These are the tales that will make you fear the dark. Read them at the Midnight Roost… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Roost-Kaye-Lynne-Booth-ebook/dp/B0CL6FPLVJ

Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow: 17 authors bring you 21 magnificent dark tales. Stories of magic, monsters and mayhem. Tales of murder and madness which will make your skin crawl. These are the tales that explore your darkest fears. Read them in the Midnight Garden… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Garden-Where-Tales-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0DJNDQJD3

Midnight Oil: Stories to Fuel Your Nightmares: Coming in October, 2025!

Book Review: “Deja Dead”

About Deja Dead

Things can get pretty dark in the City of Light.

Claire Baskerville is a 60-something American who finds herself alone in Paris when her husband is brutally murdered. Reeling from the onslaught of devastating secrets he left behind Claire is stunned to realize she no longer knows who to trust.

She only knows she can’t move forward until she finds out the truth behind who killed her husband.

In spite of a genetic brain anomaly that makes it impossible for her to remember faces – even ones she’d seen just moments before, and all alone in a foreign city, Claire doggedly collects the clues that will lead her to her husband’s killer.

Unfortunately, the closer she gets to the truth, the more determined that killer is to make sure she never leaves Paris alive.

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/D%C3%A9j%C3%A0-Dead-riveting-thriller-American-ebook/dp/B07X4TRQ3F

My Review of Deja Dead

I received a copy of Deja Dead, by Susan Kiernan-Lewis through FreeBooksie. All opinions stated here are my own

Deja Dead is the first book in Susan Kiernan-Lewis’ Claire Baskerville mystery series. I chose Deja Dead because of the cover, which features a Paris cobblestone street, with the Eiffel Tower in the background cast in an eerie purplish light, indicating to me that this might be my type of mystery story. I was not disappointed. The mood and tone of the story keep things mysterious, with a feeling of danger lurking around every corner.

Another plus, from my point of view, is that the female protagonist is in her sixties, making her a relatable character for me. Claire has no superpowers, no magical protections, and she feels all the aches and pains that result from searching the streets of Paris for her husband’s killer, and getting too close. She may be older, but she’s also wiser, and driven to find out why the Paris police are trying to sweep it all under the rug. All while dealing with the discovery that her husband wasn’t the man she thought she knew. When she learns that her father died right after her husband was murdered, and her own paternity comes into question, she’s not even sure of her own identity.

Everyone seems to have secrets, and each that is revealed sets Claire reeling. Yet, she is determined not to stop until the truth is revealed, and her husband’s murderer is caught, even when her plans seem crazy, and maybe even fool hardy. She can’t do it alone, and can only hope that she’s putting her trust in the right people.

A superb cozy mystery. Claire Baskerville is right up there with Miss Marple. I give Deja Dead five quills.

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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.

Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle – The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera and Filled Heart-Shaped Meringue Shells #bookreview #fiction #desserts

Picture caption: Cover of The Unbearable Lightness of Being featuring a bra and panties in black against a blue background

I knew when I started reading this book that it was unusual and had a big focus on extramarital affairs and womanizing, but I decided to try it anyway and see what all the fuss was about. The Unbearable Lightness of Being is set in Prague, Czechoslovakia during the Prague Spring of 1968 and the subsequent Soviet invasion. The story revolves around four central characters who are all facing their own problems and difficulties with relationships. Both of the men are womanizers and unable to remain faithful to a single woman, even one they profess to love. One of the women is also unable to settle down with a partner and has a string of affairs with men, married and otherwise.

Tomas is a successful surgeon at the beginning of the book. He fears commitment and this has already led to one failed marriage. He does not have anything to do with either his ex-wife or his son. When Tereza arrives on his doorstep, huge bag by her side, he is effectively bamboozled into taking her into his home. She fascinates him and he does have feelings of great attachment for her which lead to him marrying her. He fights these feelings and continues to have his countless affairs, in particular, he has an on-going sexual relationship with Sabina, a beautiful artist. Tereza loves Tomas very much and when the Russian Invasion begins, she goes with him to Zurich where she expects him to give up his infidelities. This does not happen, and he continues to see Sabina who has immigrated to Geneva. Tereza decides to leave Zurich and return to Prague. Tomas, despite his desire for freedom, follows Tereza, knowing he will not be able to leave Prague again. His attachment to Tereza is strong but it does not result in a happy ever after due to Tomas becoming involved in a political situation that destroys his career.

Throughout, Tomas and Tereza’s relationship, Sabina has another on-going affair with Franz, a married man who lives in Geneva. Sabina and Franz don’t understand each other at all and when Franz ultimately leaves his wife to live permanently with Sabina, she disappears, leaving him alone with no-one.

The central theme of this book is the philosophical concept of eternal return which assumes that everything in life repeats itself continuously into infinity. The author, however, uses the characters in his story to dismiss the theory of eternal return while maintaining the view that it is the only path to true happiness and as each individual’s life path is a straight line, lasting happiness is not achievable.

This was not an easy read for me, and I returned to it several times in order to finish it. The philosophy is very different from my personal beliefs and while it was a worthwhile read in the long run, it is not a book that everyone will enjoy

A few quotes from The Unbearable Lightness of Being

“Anyone whose goal is ‘something higher’ must expect someday to suffer vertigo. What is vertigo? Fear of falling? No, Vertigo is something other than fear of falling. It is the voice of the emptiness below us which tempts and lures us, it is the desire to fall, against which, terrified, we defend ourselves.”

“Making love with a woman and sleeping with a woman are two separate passions, not merely different but opposite. Love does not make itself felt in the desire for copulation (a desire that extends to an infinite number of women) but in the desire for shared sleep (a desire limited to one woman).”

“There is no means of testing which decision is better, because there is no basis for comparison. We live everything as it comes, without warning, like an actor going on cold. And what can life be worth if the first rehearsal for life is life itself? That is why life is always like a sketch. No, “sketch” is not quite a word, because a sketch is an outline of something, the groundwork for a picture, whereas the sketch that is our life is a sketch for nothing, an outline with no picture.”

Filled Heart-Shaped Meringue Shells (copyright Robbie Cheadle)

To go with this rather extraordinary book, I am sharing a dessert from my children’s book, Sir Chocolate and the Valentine Toffee Cupid.

Picture caption: Heart-Shaped Meringues before filling

Ingredients:

• 4 large egg whites at room temperature;

• ½ teaspoon cream of tartar;

• Pinch of salt;

• 1 cup castor sugar;

• Pink food colouring (liquid); and

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

What you need:

• Electric hand mixer or stand mixer;

• Baking trays;

• Wax paper cut to fit the baking trays;

• A large heart shaped cookie cutter;

• Pencil;

• Large piping bag or a strong plastic bag with the end snipped off; and

• Large star piping tip.

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 120 degrees Celsius.

• Combine egg whites, cream of tartar and salt in the bowl of the mixer (it must not be greased and must be clean and dry).

• Whisk the egg mixture on a low speed until the mixture becomes foamy.

• Increase the speed to high and gradually add the castor sugar, one tablespoon at a time. Allow for 20 seconds of mixing in between new additions of sugar.

• When the mixture is thick and glossy i.e. the spoon can stand up in the bowl, stir through the vanilla essence and a few drops of pink food colouring.

Instructions:

• Using a pencil, draw six heart shapes on the non-wax side of a piece of wax paper that fits inside the baking tray.

• Fit the star piping tip into the piping bag.

• Spoon the meringue mixture into the piping bag.

• Squeezing the bag, draw a thick line of meringue around the heart shape. Repeat twice to form three meringue layers, one on top of the other to form the sides of the meringue shell.

• Using the piping bag, fill in the bottom of the heart with meringue mixture.

• Pipe another layer of meringue around the sides of the heart.

• Pipe a few meringue stars to use up the last of the meringue mixture in the piping bag.

• Place the meringues in the oven and bake for 3 hours.

• Switch off the oven, and open the door half way. Leave the meringues to cool overnight.

Picture caption: Filled Heart-Shaped MeringuesFilling for the Heart-Shaped Meringues

Ingredients:

• A handful of chopped strawberries;

• A handful of chopped raspberries;

• Whipped cream; and

• Melted chocolate.

Method:

• Whip the cream and spoon a quantity into each shell. Don’t overfill.

• Add a small quantity of chopped strawberries and chopped raspberries.

• Drizzle tempered dark chocolate over the filling.

Tip:

Only fill the meringues just before serving or they will go soggy.

Sir Chocolate and the Valentine Toffee Cupid is available from Amazon US here:

Writer’s Corner: Endeavor to Persevere

When I was in the creative writing program at Western State Colorado University, bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson gave a talk he called “The Popcorn Theory of Success”, where he shared his journey to become a bestselling author back when traditional publishing was the only door leading to authordom. His theory involved saying, “Yes, I can do that.” to every opportunity that came to him. He’s giving this talk many times, including when he was the Keynote Speaker at the WordCrafter 2020 Stay in Place Virtual Writing Conference, hosted by WordCrafter Press. (You can see Kevin’s “Popcorn Theory of Success” on YouTube at the link above.)

For me, this was inspiring and I’ve tried to follow Kevin’s advice whenever an opportunity presents itself, even when imposter syndrome rears it’s ugly head and tries to tell me that I can’t. The publishing world today is different from when KJA was a rising star, and authors can’t just wait for opportunities to come to us. There are simply too many of us out there, and many of us don’t have time to wait around to be discovered by the movers and shakers of the publishing world. The Big 5 has shrunken down to the Big 3 as the big boys merge to stay alive in a changing publishing landscape that has shifted over to favor the independent publisher, and that’s where a plethora of opportunities are found, and authors must take the initiative to get their works published.

That’s how WordCrafter Press came about. I tried the traditional publishing route, submitting my works wherever I could, like I’d been taught while earning my M.F.A., and I even found a publisher, although not one of the Big 5, for the first edition of Delilah. But my sales weren’t nearly as good as I had hoped. Perhaps the publisher made attempts to market the book, but I never saw them. I believe this is typical for small independent publishers, and even traditional publishers have lightened up on thier marketing efforts, depending more on the author to market the book. I began self-publishing my other works through Draft2Digital and was quite happy with the results, so when my contract ran out, I didn’t renew. Instead, I revised the story and created book 1 of my Women in the West adventure series in 2023, and I did, indeed, through my own efforts, sell more copies than I had through the publisher in my first Kickstarter campaign. Sarah, book 2, was published last year, and this year, I’m working on the third book, Marta.

Today’s author must go beyond saying yes when opportunities present themselves, and find or create those opportunities and make them happen. In the movie, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Chief Dan George’s character, Lone Wadi tells Josey Wales (Clint Eastwood) that the U.S. government told his people to ‘endeavor to persevere’, which basically means, ‘keep on keeping on’. I’ve made that my personal philosophy, to ‘endeavor to persevere’. When I run into obstacles in my path, I try to fix them or find a way around them, and then I carry on. I don’t allow those obstacles to stop me. I’ve been told I am persistent, but I think I’m just determined.

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About Kaye Lynne Booth

For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and her Time-Travel Adventure novel, The Rock Star & The Outlaw,as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource. Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.

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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.

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This segment of “Writer’s Corner” is sponsored by the Robbie’s Inspiration blog site, where you can find ideas on writing and baking with hostess, Robbie Cheadle.

Undawntech: Past as Prologue

Greetings, Undawntechies!

If you didn’t hear the collective girly screams of every nerd, geek, and spiritualist denizen, regardless of gender, in a five-mile radius last week, then you live under a rock. Or, you’re dead.

The excitement was about the new discovery under the Giza plateau.

Still don’t have an idea? Better check your pulse.

In the past few years, a new way to use radar and satellites was developed. It’s called SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar). Here is Jay Anderson, OSINT researcher, explaining the technology and findings:

Since the Egyptian government disallows any form of archaeological inquiry that may disrupt commerce, tourism, or beliefs, scientists are hard-pressed to prove their hypothesis outside the mainstream dynastic narrative. In lieu of getting their khakis dirty, scientists have moved into the revolutionary field of digital tomography. This allows them to use technology to do their digging for them. No longer will elitists be able to debunk or argue cold hard scientific facts by spinning theories or railroading other academics.

With a four-hour lecture pending release, humanity will have further details about the research employed, technology used, and scientific paper written that gave them a glimpse into our past.

Every day, science, and technology are growing by leaps and bounds. AI (Artificial Intelligence), SAI (Super Artificial Intelligence), and other computer-based programs and algorithms continue to make headlines. Little inquiry is spent educating humanity about our past and future, but much time is spent parading around the bells and whistles. Ever noticed that?

We are given no information in which to research, investigate, or discuss on our own. For instance, is our future really on Mars? Or, is it with Venus? Only time will tell which planet will win the debate. Did you know there was one? That’s the point.

As for archaeology and history aspects to our blue globe, SAR, LiDAR, and other geospatial mapping technologies are challenging these fields and their one-sided public disclosures. LiDAR, according to USGS, is “Light Detection and Ranging (lidar) is a technology used to create high-resolution models of ground elevation with a vertical accuracy of 10 centimeters (4 inches). Lidar equipment, which includes a laser scanner, a Global Positioning System (GPS), and an Inertial Navigation System (INS), is typically mounted on a small aircraft” (https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-lidar-data-and-where-can-i-download-it). SAR, or “synthetic aperture radar is a way of creating an image using radio waves” (https://www.capellaspace.com/blog/sar-101-an-introduction-to-synthetic-aperture-radar). Ancient structures and other anomalies are being unearthed across the globe, which cannot be explained by what professors teach at universities. History is changing before our eyes. In the way of this knowledge, we have historical, cultural, and religious gatekeepers hindering actual progress.

Isn’t democracy all the rage? Until someone wants to prove a textbook or religious doctrine invalid, then good luck getting your papers published or your research publicized.

Humanity is longer lived, more expansive, and smarter than previously comprehended. As creators of art, music, and literature, how will you use this information to inform as well as entertain your audience?

Here is

After the internet exploded with the Giza Plateau discovery, I wrote the short story, “The Initiation” (http://www.undawnted.com/p/the-initiation.html), based on “The Reality Hackers”, (Visions, 2023, WordCrafter Press) (http://www.undawnted.com/p/the-reality-hackers.html), that uses this Giza Plateau discovery as a backdrop to a science fiction time travel plot. It will be submitted for consideration into the Midnight Oil dark fiction anthology, due April 30, 2025.

Get your short story into WordCrafter Press! I am.

Never stop questioning, because what you know may just be someone else’s story.

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About DL Mullan

DL Mullan holds a Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning with Technology. Her lecture, Spacescapes: Where Photography Ends; Imagination Begins, debuted at the Phoenix Astronomy Society, which then led to her Sally Ride Festival lecture invitations. Her presentation, Bridging the Gap between Technology and Women, won her accolades at a community college’s Student Success Conference. She has been a panelist at speculative fiction, science fiction, and other regional conventions. Her digital exhibition pieces have won awards at convention art shows, as well as garnered her Second Premium at the Arizona State Fair. Currently, Ms. Mullan’s artistic renditions are seen on book covers, blog sites, and various merchandise. As an independent publisher, she uses her technical background to innovate the way she perceives the creative arts.

As a writer, DL Mullan loves to stretch her imagination and the elasticity of genres. She writes complex multigenre stories in digestible and entertaining forms, be it poetry, short fiction, or novels. Her science, history, mythology, and paranormal research background is woven into her writings, especially in Undawnted’s Legacy Universe. Ms. Mullan’s creative endeavors are available in digital and print collections, from academia to commercial anthologies. She is also an award-winning poet.

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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.

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This segment of “Undawntech” is sponsored by The D.I.Y. Author and WordCrafter Press .

Being an author today is more than just writing the book. Authors in this digital age have more opportunities than ever before. Whether you pursue independent or traditional publishing models, or a combination of the two, being an author involves not only writing, but often, the publishing and marketing of the book.

In this writer’s reference guide, multi-genre author and independent publisher, Kaye Lynne Booth shares her knowledge and experiences and the tools, books, references and sites to help you learn the business of being an author.

Topics Include:

Becoming Prolific

Writing Tools

Outlining

Making Quality a Priority

Publishing Models & Trends

Marketing Your Book

Book Covers & Blurbs

Book Events—In Person & Virtual

And more…

Purchase your copy today: https://books2read.com/The-DIY-Author

LINDSEY’S WRITING PRACTICE: Getting Down to Concrete

(Concrete Diction Exercise )

Dr. Lindsey Martin-Bowen 

Hello to all budding—and extremely experienced—writers out there in Cyberworld. In my three-plus decades of teaching literature and writing (all levels/all sorts), I’ve used the following exercise at the onset of each semester for nearly all writing classes—from beginners to published writers, and it’s even been a hit at faculty conferences where writing teachers have enjoyed performing the exercise—then later sharing it with students. Thus, have fun. (I had so much fun with it, I set up a second set of vague sentences to be revised with concrete diction (by writing at least two sensual descriptions in each one). I’ll share that one sometime in the future. But for now, Enjoy!

Getting down to the Concrete

(Concrete Diction Exercise 1)

Vagueness and generalities are the writer’s worst enemies. Thus, as writers, we must become “camcorders” to recreate visual, auditory, and tactile descriptions. Such descriptions are “concrete details.” Please rewrite each of the following sentences by using as many concrete details as possible. Use sensory descriptions including details. Doing this will cause the reader to see, hear, feel, taste,  or smell what you have recounted.

Here are hints about the first one: 

She was happy because of the good grade on her exam. Note the vague (or equivocating) language with “happy” and “good.” I mean, really—did she smile quietly at a desk or jump up and down or turn cartwheels down the hallway? And what was the grade? What sort of exam? The people in line for registration looked bored and tired. The foreman was obviously upset. The appliance made a funny noise. The room was an incredible mess when she finished her project. The attendant’s coat was worn and dirty. The old car was badly battered. The secretary looked sick. The spectators were very excited after the winning touchdown. The players on the losing team were very discouraged when they came from the locker room. 

It can be fun to see what others came up with, as no one will come up with the same sentence as someone else. How concrete can you be? Feel free to share your results in the comments.

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About Lindsey Martin-Bowen

On Halloween 2023, redbat books released Lindsey Martin-Bowen’s 7th poetry collection, CASHING CHECKS with Jim Morrison. Her 4th collection, Where Water Meets the Rock, was nominated for a Pulitzer; her 3rd, CROSSING KANSAS with Jim Morrison was a finalist in the QuillsEdge Press 2015-2016 Contest. In 2017, it won the Kansas Writers Assn award, “Looks Like a Million.” Writer’s Digest gave her “Vegetable Linguistics” an Honorable Mention in its 85th Annual (2017) Contest. Her Inside Virgil’s Garage (Chatter House Press 2013) was a runner-up in the 2015 Nelson Poetry Book Award. McClatchy Newspapers named her Standing on the Edge of the World (Woodley Press/Washburn University) one of the Ten Top Poetry Books of 2008. It was nominated for a Pen Award.

Her poems have run in numerous lit mags, including New Letters, I-70 Review, Thorny Locust, Coal City Review, Silver Birch Press, Flint Hills Review, The Same, Phantom Drift, Porter Gulch Review, Rockhurst Review, 21 anthologies. She taught lit & writing at UMKC & MCC 25 years, and taught law for Blue Mountain College in Pendleton, Oregon. She holds an MA from the U of Mo. and a JD degree from the UMKC Law School. Previously,  she was reporter for The Louisville Times and The SUN Newspapers, an associate editor for Modern Jeweler Magazine and the editor for The National Paralegal Reporter.

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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.

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This segment of “Lindsey’s Writing Practice” with Lindsey Martin-Bowen is sponsored by The Women in the West Adventure Series and WordCrafter Press.

Historical Women’s Fiction

Get Your Copy Today!

Delilah: https://books2read.com/DelilahWiW1

Sarah: https://books2read.com/Sarah-Women-in-the-West

Marta: Coming in 2025

LINDSEY’S WRITING PRACTICE

Getting down to the Concrete

(Concrete Diction Exercise )

Dr. Lindsey Martin-Bowen 

Hello to all budding—and extremely experienced—writers out there in Cyberworld. In my three-plus decades of teaching literature and writing (all levels/all sorts), I’ve used the following exercise at the onset of each semester for nearly all writing classes—from beginners to published writers, and it’s even been a hit at faculty conferences where writing teachers have enjoyed performing the exercise—then later sharing it with students. Thus, have fun. (I had so much fun with it, I set up a second set of vague sentences to be revised with concrete diction (by writing at least two sensual descriptions in each one). I’ll share that one sometime in the future. But for now, Enjoy!

Getting down to the Concrete

(Concrete Diction Exercise 1)

Vagueness and generalities are the writer’s worst enemies. Thus, as writers, we must become “camcorders” to recreate visual, auditory, and tactile descriptions. Such descriptions are “concrete details.” Please rewrite each of the following sentences by using as many concrete details as possible. Use sensory descriptions including details. Doing this will cause the reader to see, hear, feel, taste,  or smell what you have recounted.

Here are hints about the first one: 

She was happy because of the good grade on her exam. Note the vague 

(or equivocating) language with “happy” and “good.” I mean, really—did 

she smile quietly at a desk or jump up and down or turn cartwheels down  

the hallway? And what was the grade? What sort of exam? 

The people in line for registration looked bored and tired. The foreman was obviously upset. The appliance made a funny noise. The room was an incredible mess when she finished her project. The attendant’s coat was worn and dirty. The old car was badly battered. The secretary looked sick. The spectators were very excited after the winning touchdown. The players on the losing team were very discouraged when they came from the locker room. 

_______________________________________

About Lindsey Martin-Bowen

LIN

Getting down to the Concrete

(Concrete Diction Exercise )

Dr. Lindsey Martin-Bowen 

Hello to all budding—and extremely experienced—writers out there in Cyberworld. In my three-plus decades of teaching literature and writing (all levels/all sorts), I’ve used the following exercise at the onset of each semester for nearly all writing classes—from beginners to published writers, and it’s even been a hit at faculty conferences where writing teachers have enjoyed performing the exercise—then later sharing it with students. Thus, have fun. (I had so much fun with it, I set up a second set of vague sentences to be revised with concrete diction (by writing at least two sensual descriptions in each one). I’ll share that one sometime in the future. But for now, Enjoy!

Getting down to the Concrete

(Concrete Diction Exercise 1)

Vagueness and generalities are the writer’s worst enemies. Thus, as writers, we must become “camcorders” to recreate visual, auditory, and tactile descriptions. Such descriptions are “concrete details.” Please rewrite each of the following sentences by using as many concrete details as possible. Use sensory descriptions including details. Doing this will cause the reader to see, hear, feel, taste,  or smell what you have recounted.

Here are hints about the first one: 

She was happy because of the good grade on her exam. Note the vague 

(or equivocating) language with “happy” and “good.” I mean, really—did 

she smile quietly at a desk or jump up and down or turn cartwheels down  

the hallway? And what was the grade? What sort of exam? 

The people in line for registration looked bored and tired. The foreman was obviously upset. The appliance made a funny noise. The room was an incredible mess when she finished her project. The attendant’s coat was worn and dirty. The old car was badly battered. The secretary looked sick. The spectators were very excited after the winning touchdown. The players on the losing team were very discouraged when they came from the locker room. 

The WtbR Team

WordCrafter News: “Poetry Treasures 5: Simple Pleasures” Release & Deadline for Anthology Submissions – Plus Welcoming a New Member of the WtbR Blog Team

We’re approaching the end of March, and hasn’t this month gone fast. This month began with my birthday on the 3rd, and a came down with a nasty flue the following week, which set everything behind for me. Life hasn’t dished out a bowl of cherries for me this month, more like a bowl of sour grapes. But I’m finally getting things back on track, although I’ve had to play a little catch up.

I’m still looking for sponsors here on Writing to be Read, so if you’d like to see your book or blog at the end of a series post once, or repeatedly, please consider sponsoring a series. You can sponsor a blog series from the WtbR Sponsor Page. All sponsors will also be listed on the Sponsor Page. Or, if you prefer to make a one time donation, you can do that here. All support is greatly appreciated.

New Release! Poetry Treasures 5: Simple Pleasures

Poetry Treasures 5: Simple Pleasures will be released in April, in honor of National Poetry Month, but due to a couple of delays on my end I don’t have the release date yet. I’m still doing my final edit on it, and then it’s off for a final approval from the poets. Once that is complete, I’ll be able to give you a release date, as the dates for the blog tour, so stay tuned.

I must say we have a fine group of poets this year. Featured poets are DL Mullan, Barbara Harris Leonard, Jude Itakali, Ivor Steven, Robbie Cheadle, Michelle Ayon Nevajas, Gwen M. Plano, Liz Gauffreau, David Blogomony, Dawn Pisturino, Maggie Watson, and Colleen Chesbro. These poems about the simple pleasures in life are sure to warm your heart, and I’m proud to place the WordCrafter brand on this collection.

Submissions Deadline for WordCrafter 2024 Dark Fiction Contest

The submissions deadline for the 2025 WordCrafter Dark Fiction Contest is fast approaching on April 30, so get those stories into me. Contest submissions may be offered the opportunity to be featured in the Midnight Oil Anthology, which will be released in October of 2025. The winner is guaranteed a spot in the anthology and display their winner’s badge in social media and on their site.

You can find all the submission guidelines here: https://writingtoberead.com/2025/01/01/call-for-submissions-2/

A Big Welcome to Lindsey Martin-Bowen From Writing to be Read

I hope you will all join us in giving a big welcome to the newest member of the Writing to be Read team, Lindsey Martin-Bowen. I met Lindsey as a fan who left comments which sparked a conversation between the two of us. Last year, I reviewed her poetry collection, Cashing Checks with Jim Morrison here. More recently, she offered a rave review of The Rock Star & The Outlaw, which prompted me to invite her to join the WtbR team. Lindsey has spent many years teaching, so a series with writing lessons seemed to be the obvious choice. You can learn more about her on our newly updated WtbR Team Member’s page, so please drop in and see what’s new there.

April will bring the first segment of Lindsey’s new blog series, “Lindsey’s Writing Practice”. In it, she will share writing exercises, tips and advice to help improve craft. Say hello in the comments. Then join us the first Wednesday of each month as we stretch our writing muscles and add to our writer’s toolboxes to make our writing shine.

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This post sponsored by  WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services .

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Book Review: Stories from Juniper Flats

About Stories from Juniper Flats

1882, Juniper Falls, Wyoming Territory

In this first collection of short stories from historical western author A.T. Butler, love blooms and mysteries are solved. Strong men learn to be patient and cowed women lean into their strengths.

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BYKF1LLB

My Review of Stories from Juniper Flats

I received a digital copy of Stories from Juniper Flats, by A.T. Butler through Freebooksie. All opinions stated here are my own.

Stories from Juniper Flats is a delightful collection of three short stories connected to A.T. Butler’s Juniper Falls historical women’s fiction collection. This half hour read is the perfect reader magnet, giving the reader just enough to get to know a little about the characters and make them want more.

A man makes assumptions about Martha, the local spinster, and gets a surprise in “An Unwanted Visitor”.Silas decides to attend church after staying away for so long, and gets an extra blessing for his efforts in “Unexpected Blessing”.Edith shelters a desperate young woman fleeing from an abusive husband, who lands on the steps of her boarding house in “Desperate Hope”.

An easy, quick read that is highly entertaining. I give Stories from Juniper Flats four quills.

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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.