Chris Abouzeid's Blog, page 54

Book Review: The Murderer's Daughters

I admit it: When it comes to books, I'm a twelve year old at heart.  Thirteen, max.  So most of what I read comes off the Middle Grade and YA shelves.  Randy Susan Meyers' novel, The Murderer's Daughters, isn't a YA title, and it's not likely to end up on the YA shelves anytime soon.  [...]

It Was Fresh When I Started: The Sell-By Date on Inspiration

Many years ago, while driving down Charles Street, in Boston, I had what I call a "speculative vision." It had rained during the night, and the morning sun glaring off the puddles was casting weak, golden halos around everything. Two men in long woolen coats suddenly passed in front of me, and in the strange [...]

5 New iPad Accessories You Can’t Live Without

iTelligent The biggest problem with the iPad? No one can see what you’re reading. How is that hot chick on the subway supposed to know what a studly-but-literary guy you really are? How is that cute professorial type with the bow-tie and patches on his elbows going to know you’re totally hot for Shakespeare? Enter [...]

5 New iPad Accessories You Can't Live Without

iTelligent The biggest problem with the iPad? No one can see what you're reading. How is that hot chick on the subway supposed to know what a studly-but-literary guy you really are? How is that cute professorial type with the bow-tie and patches on his elbows going to know you're totally hot for Shakespeare? Enter [...]

Pumping Up the Plot (Part 2): Plot Sprints & Other Exercises

Yeah, we've all done plot exercises, either at workshops or by ourselves.  But what makes these exercises a little different is they're meant to be done in your head, not on paper.  That's where your ideas come from, after all, and the more you can work out a story in your head, the stronger your [...]

Pumping Up the Plot (Part 1): 6 Vital Signs of A Healthy Plot

So you're good at coming up with interesting characters. Or maybe you can describe a freshly mowed lawn right down to the chopped up tennis balls and cut-grass-mixed-with-dog-poop smell. But if all your writing mojo turns to Jello as soon as someone mentions the word "plot," here's a little something that might help: the 6 [...]

New Writers’ Blog: Beyond The Margins – Check it out!

Another blog?! OMG, aren’t there like more blogs in the world than there are people in China? And what happens when all those people in China start their blogs? Well, let’s face it: we can never have too many blogs. At least, good ones. And since I’m one of the main contributors for this new [...]

New Writers' Blog: Beyond The Margins – Check it out!

Another blog?! OMG, aren't there like more blogs in the world than there are people in China? And what happens when all those people in China start their blogs? Well, let's face it: we can never have too many blogs. At least, good ones. And since I'm one of the main contributors for this new [...]