Barbara Fradkin's Blog, page 172
February 14, 2018
Little Voices Inside My Head
The little voice in the back of my head began whispering to me around page 200 of the novel I’m writing. I’ve heard the voice before, and like the other times, it began like a bad radio transmission: static muffling a cryptic message.
As always –– when I plant myself in front of the computer to compose, print the hard copy, read that with pencil in hand, and compose again –– the whisper isn’t so
As always –– when I plant myself in front of the computer to compose, print the hard copy, read that with pencil in hand, and compose again –– the whisper isn’t so
February 13, 2018
Happy Valentine's Day!
I’m taking a break from working on my book, which is due very, very soon, to wish you all a Happy Valentine’s Day. My hero, Snoopy, does it better than I can so here’s a short video for you.
Last time you heard from me, I was in a sorry state, quite convinced that I was doomed. Things are looking brighter now. I had a bit of an epiphany regarding the last bit of the book, which I wasn’t
Last time you heard from me, I was in a sorry state, quite convinced that I was doomed. Things are looking brighter now. I had a bit of an epiphany regarding the last bit of the book, which I wasn’t
February 12, 2018
A SPECIAL special guest blogger: Deborah Atkinson returns!
I am thrilled to tell you that one of our former bloggers is returning today for a special appearance. If yours truly weren’t such a dunce, you would have been reading this on the first weekend of this month — but I got my dates wrong. So I am happily giving up my regular Tuesday spot to my good friend to bring you what I promise is something out of the ordinary for Type M. So take it away,
To splash out or not to splash out?
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This
year here in Edinburgh, Scotland, we are celebrating the centenary
one of our most famous novelists, Muriel Spark. In 2008 the Times
newspaper named Spark as No. 8 in its list of "the 50 greatest
British writers since 1945." She is possibly most well know for
her novel The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. However, Spark is quoted as
saying her favourite
This
year here in Edinburgh, Scotland, we are celebrating the centenary
one of our most famous novelists, Muriel Spark. In 2008 the Times
newspaper named Spark as No. 8 in its list of "the 50 greatest
British writers since 1945." She is possibly most well know for
her novel The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. However, Spark is quoted as
saying her favourite
February 9, 2018
Author Mike Martin on knowing when to let go
As our guest author this weekend, I am pleased to welcome friend and fellow Ottawa writer Mike Martin. Mike is the author of the gentle, atmospheric Sgt. Windflower mystery series set amid the rugged capes and whimsical villages of Newfoundland. There are six books in the series, the latest being A Tangled Web. The previous book, A Long Ways from Home, was shortlisted for the Bony Blithe
What I Learned About My First Book
I'm about to complete a tedious project. I thought it would take a few days. With interruptions to do other necessary tasks, it has taken two months. But what I've learned has been both eye-opening and rewarding.
I mentioned at the end of last year that a new publisher was about to re-issue my Lizzie Stuart series in both e-books and print. I was really excited when I saw the new cover and then
I mentioned at the end of last year that a new publisher was about to re-issue my Lizzie Stuart series in both e-books and print. I was really excited when I saw the new cover and then
February 7, 2018
Set to Launch and Reading Reviews
My newest Alafair Tucker novel, Forty Dead Men, has finally been released into the world—at last! It seems to me that this book was a LONG time coming. I turned in the final revised manuscript months ago. A few years back I went to a book launch for a novel that was number 12 in a series, and the author said he was currently working on number 14 and could hardly remember what number 12 was
February 6, 2018
Confronting dull as dust
More thoughts on Sybil's and Aline's posts, both of which resonate so vividly with us all. It's so nice to feel we writers are not alone in our madness.
I have a twist to add to Aline's seven stages of writing. In my case, the desperation stage usually hits when I realize not only do I not have enough plot thrills and twists to fill 300+ pages, but the 64 pages I have written are as dull as
I have a twist to add to Aline's seven stages of writing. In my case, the desperation stage usually hits when I realize not only do I not have enough plot thrills and twists to fill 300+ pages, but the 64 pages I have written are as dull as
Writing to a target
by Rick Blechta
I’ve been working on my next fictional foray for far too long now. Yeah, there are some excellent extenuating circumstances involved, but the fact is I really want to get on with this, get to the end of the novel and then sit back and see what I’ve got.Several years ago while in Italy scouting locations for my most recently published full-length novel, Roses for a Diva, I saw
I’ve been working on my next fictional foray for far too long now. Yeah, there are some excellent extenuating circumstances involved, but the fact is I really want to get on with this, get to the end of the novel and then sit back and see what I’ve got.Several years ago while in Italy scouting locations for my most recently published full-length novel, Roses for a Diva, I saw
February 4, 2018
The Seven Stages of Writing a Novel
It was Sybil's post the other day, talking about the stage we all know - that crisis of confidence we get near the end of a book and suddenly start panicking about the approaching deadline when no ending appears to be in sight - that got me thinking about all the different stages on the way through - seven, I reckon.
1. Inspiration.
This is the good bit. This is the time when your head is
1. Inspiration.
This is the good bit. This is the time when your head is
