Ed Borowsky's Blog

I'm Just a Fiction Author... Finding My Next Protagonist’s Voice

I've contemplated writing my next book. It's been calling out to me, a sequel to my first published book and International Book Award-winning novella, The Great Mongolian Bowling League of the United States of America.  

 

Been meditating on it for some time now.

 

I find it fascinating how people who come from places far away, from different cultural backgrounds, can come together and begin to understand each other. 

 

So far I have Harold and Murray, two old alte kaker Jews living in a...

Fiction Mirror Reality: Pieces of You in Every Book

I've found my writing talent at fifty-six years old. My mother used to tell me that I was a writer at a young age and of course I never listened to her. However, the only other time I did listen is when she "found the right girl for me." Yes, she introduced me to my wife of thirty-three years poolside at her condo in Altamonte Springs, Fl. We went on a date and the rest as they say, "Is history."
 
I've wondered if at thirty I could have written like I do now, but quite frankly, I'm not sure...

Fiction Mirror Reality: Pieces of you in Every Book

I've found my writing talent at fifty-six years old. My mother used to tell me that I was a writer at a young age and of course I never listened to her. However, the only other time I did listen is when she "found the right girl for me." Yes, she introduced me to my wife of thirty-three years poolside at her condo in Altamonte Springs, Fl. We went on a date and the rest as they say, "Is history."

I've wondered if at thirty I could have written like I do now, but quite frankly, I'm not sure...

Elements of Writing: Orientation (Part 3: The Great Mongolian Bowling League)

 

Spark: The Mongolian-American Taxi Driver

 

The spark zapped me when I was coming home to Orlando, Florida from my sister's house in Chicago. I hopped into the taxi and the taxi driver asked me where I was headed.

 

I said, "Home, Orlando."

 

He replied, "I'm going to Orlando next month."

 

I asked, "Are you going to Disney?"

 

"No, bowling tournament."

 

I then asked, "Where you from originally?"

 

"Mongolia."

 

"Is bowling big in Mongolia?"

 

"No! On Thursday nights, AMF bowling alleys all over the country have a promotion called quarter mania. Between 5 p.m. to midnight they of...

Motivation & Writing: The Initial Spark that Captures the Writer's Imagination

 

 

Synopsis: Here I discuss the relationship between motivation and writing, and describe the ways in which we can be ignited by the spark of a story idea (or, infected by its germ!). I also briefly touch on the reason why NaNoWriMo may not be your next step - yet.

 

Motivation & Writing

 

In the month of November, authors are encouraged to sit down and set a goal of 50,000 words in a brave effort to write a novel in a month. There's a whole support group set up to assist the authors in their endeavor.

NaNoWriMo is a 50...

Elements of Writing: Orientation

 

Elements of Writing: Orientation

 

"Whatever the central idea, it should immediately raise an important question that needs to be answered. Well-crafted plays and novels raise important questions that the reader or audience wants answered. A question that will arouse curiosity, cause people to think, take sides, root for or against the characters involved in the action. The central idea is what keeps the reader reading and the audience in its seat. And most importantly, the writer should stay on track until the..."Whatever

Elements of Writing: Orientation (Part I: The Amazing Life of Art Lemon)

 

This germ infected me about eighteen years ago. I met the store owner who was also the mayor of a small border town in Arizona situated somewhere on the Arizona/Mexican line.

 

The mayor of the town said to me pointing, "You see that air force base over there, that's a top-secret base. That's where they developed stealth technology."

He then said, "Know what they are working on now? Miniatures! Little bugs that have cameras as heads that can walk under doors to spy on the enemy. They have bugs that can fly in...

The Strange, Wonderful Roads We Travel...

 

How many literary works by American novelists have "Mongolian" in the title? Not many but my recently published book happens to be one of them. I thus looked to the obvious route to promote my book, contacting via email the Executive Director of the American Center for Mongolian Studies.

 

The next day, I received an email from Jonathan Addleton, Executive Director. I was surprised to read that he already had discovered my book. He commented that he'd enjoyed the read immensely, and that be...

Murray's Famous Checklist

 

In the story of the Great Mongolian Bowling League, Murray Schwartz, the protagonist Harold Kushner's best friend and roommate of 30 years, is a mechanical genius. He can fix anything and is always looking for ways to make his fortune on his next best invention that will change the world. Like many very smart people, Murray sees life from a different perspective. However, at times he has difficulty tying his own shoelaces.

 

Murray and Harold are two single men, living together for all of t...

On Harold Kushner: Fictional Character Names and Real-Life Coincidences

 

At the time when I picked the name Harold Kushner for the name of my protagonist, I didn't think of the renowned Rabbi Harold Samuel Kushner.

 

I just picked a name that came to mind and one that would work with his sidekick, Murray. I hate to admit it but I had no idea who Harold Kushner was. I'd heard about his classic When Bad Things Happen to Good People though I'm not sure I've ever read it. Boy, is that embarrassing to reveal. Like my character, I might not be the brightest bulb in th...