Joseph Carrabis's Blog, page 8

An Experiment in Writing – Part 34: Editing

  Okay, a big one. Editing. A word which often strikes fear in the hearts and minds of authors and writers and is meaningless to those not equally blessed, called, summoned, directed, … Go ahead. Edit it. Pick a word which works for you and use it. Or a paragraph. Or character. Or…   Think … Continue reading "An Experiment in Writing – Part 34: Editing"

Fains I (A John Chance Mystery) Chapter 14 – Voices in the Sky

Well…here we are…in June…of 2025. I’ve decided not to bore you with more rewrites of previous chapters. They happened, just not going to share them. I can be merciful that way… Fains I (A John Chance Mystery) Chapter 14 – Voices in the Sky   John knocked on Monique’s door Friday at 5PM. Behind him … Continue reading "Fains I (A John Chance Mystery) Chapter 14 – Voices in the Sky"

It All Depends on What You’re Willing to See

There is a phrase which comes and goes in popularity – Believing is Seeing. This phrase is usually on a background of a toddler interacting with a fairy, something Tinkerbellish. I wonder if Tinkerbell will get the Wicked treatment at some point. They’ll find her turning tricks in a trashy bar’s bathroom in some third … Continue reading "It All Depends on What You’re Willing to See"

An Experiment in Writing – Part 33: Writer’s Block versus Writer Stuck

  I am a firm believer that writers never get blocked, they get stuck. Pantzers are more likely to get blocked than Plotters, me thinks, and probably due to they’re not knowing where the story’s going to begin with (which is why I strongly encourage people to blend plotting and pantzing). This experiment has some … Continue reading "An Experiment in Writing – Part 33: Writer’s Block versus Writer Stuck"

Fains I (A John Chance Mystery) Chapter 13 – Digging In the Dirt

Oh, how exciting! Another brand new never-before-seen chapter! Enjoy. Fains I (A John Chance Mystery) Chapter 13 – Digging in the Dirt Stacey, khaki shorts, rainbow colored t-shirt, straw farmer’s hat, gardening gloves, and work boots, kneeled in some freshly turned earth at the end of her garden. Some garden stakes, seed packets, twine, a … Continue reading "Fains I (A John Chance Mystery) Chapter 13 – Digging In the Dirt"

We’re All Getting Older

My knees talk to me. Not so much talk as ratchet. Perhaps that’s how they talk. Perhaps Kneeish is a series of ratcheting sounds only other knees can understand. My knees have amazing conversations with each other. Sometimes my shoulders join in. Shoulderish seems consist of pops as well as ratcheting. My spine mostly remains … Continue reading "We’re All Getting Older"

An Experiment in Writing – Part 32: Let the Characters Do the Work

Consider this experiment the end of an arc beginning with An Experiment in Writing – Part 30: What Happens Next? and continuing with An Experiment in Writing – Part 31: Who Haven’t I Written About Lately? (see how I numbered them sequentially? That’s a clue so I can remember them). “Let the characters do the … Continue reading "An Experiment in Writing – Part 32: Let the Characters Do the Work"

A Twelfth of Carrabis (May 2025 Newsletter)

Musings No takers on last month’s challenge RoundTable 360° Creativity: the fight against “normal” Joe Lewis’ Black Ye’ii That Think You Do Volume 2 needs First Readers June Writers’ Workshop Zen Citizen A Little Game I’m published here Long ago and far away, I published The Solitaire Meditation. It’s a simple meditative practice which, when … Continue reading "A Twelfth of Carrabis (May 2025 Newsletter)"

Fains I (A John Chance Mystery) Chapter 12 – Strange Tales of Foreign Lands

Oh, how exciting! A brand new never-before-seen chapter! Enjoy. Fains I (A John Chance Mystery) Chapter 12 – Strange Tales of Foreign Lands Tom stood in his room in his sister’s farmhouse. The drive from Naval Station New York to Acra gave him much to think about and none of it made any sense. Stacey … Continue reading "Fains I (A John Chance Mystery) Chapter 12 – Strange Tales of Foreign Lands"

A Feast In the Dark

Continuing with our dining motif, we present for your satisfaction some raccoons enjoying a late night supping experience. They make quite the ruckus when their baskets – I mean “plates” – are empty. Pounding on the trees, barking at us, huffing. It’s good to know one’s place in the universe. For me, at times, it’s … Continue reading "A Feast In the Dark"