Joseph Carrabis's Blog, page 89

“Your Writing Seems So Real”

Okay, not real so much as believable. Fiction has to be believable at some level or the reader won’t be interested. Readers tell me my characters are believable. When I ask some questions it comes out that readers feel (empathize) with the characters. Great! Excellent! Yowza! Ask a few more questions and readers tell me … Continue reading "“Your Writing Seems So Real”"

The Goatmen of Aguirra, Part 11

The Goatmen of Aguirra is one of my favorite stories and, based on comments, popular among my readers (thankee!). It appears in my self-published Tales Told ‘Round Celestial Campfires, as an individual ebook The Goatmen of Aguirra: A Tale Told ‘Round Celestial Campfires, and was serialized in Piker Press in 2019. I’m sharing it here … Continue reading "The Goatmen of Aguirra, Part 11"

Bees at the Bar

You’ve heard about busy bees, no doubt. Anybody ever told you about the lazy bees? These are worker bees who’ve decided to hell with all that pollen gathering and dancing and waxing and such, we’re going out for a good drunk! They’re normally quite friendly. Until someone touches their watering hole…I mean, birdfeeder. Hummingbird feeder, … Continue reading "Bees at the Bar"

I Can Crack My Knuckles Therefore I Must Be a Chiropractor! (Musings on Expertise)

[[This post originally appeared on my Stating the Obvious blog back in 2011. I’m resurrecting it because I’m currently taking a series of classes from people who are…interesting. Why interesting? Well, as an example, if you can’t remember the terms for what you’re teaching, perhaps you shouldn’t be teaching it. Or how about, if every … Continue reading "I Can Crack My Knuckles Therefore I Must Be a Chiropractor! (Musings on Expertise)"

Ansen Dibell’s “Plot”

First, Whoa! The book’s entitled Plot and it has immediately useful (to me) techniques and examples on Plot (duh!) Story Structure Setting Description POV Exposition Scenes and it does it all in 170 pages (which includes a seven page index)! I’m blessed because I purchased most of my writing texts in the 1970s-early 1990s, long … Continue reading "Ansen Dibell’s “Plot”"

The Goatmen of Aguirra, Part 10

The Goatmen of Aguirra is one of my favorite stories and, based on comments, popular among my readers (thankee!). It appears in my self-published Tales Told ‘Round Celestial Campfires, as an individual ebook The Goatmen of Aguirra: A Tale Told ‘Round Celestial Campfires, and was serialized in Piker Press in 2019. I’m sharing it here … Continue reading "The Goatmen of Aguirra, Part 10"

Congratulations to Good Mother Hyacinthe

It isn’t easy raising kids, human or Wild, doesn’t matter. These days, parenting is tough. Makes me glad Susan and I opted out. Not so Hyacinthe. She’s such a good mother. Raised five kits to juvenality on her own. Okay, we contributed somewhat, good aunt and uncle that we are. Still, raising five healthy kits … Continue reading "Congratulations to Good Mother Hyacinthe"

William Zinsser’s “On Writing Well”

I feel sorry for fiction writers and author-wannabes who pass by On Writing Well because it’s subtitled “The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction.” Don’t let that fool you. This book is a gem. It’s not laid out like most books I’ve read on (fiction) writing (the TOC’s chapters include The Transaction, Simplicity, Clutter, Style (okay, … Continue reading "William Zinsser’s “On Writing Well”"

The Goatmen of Aguirra, Part 9

The Goatmen of Aguirra is one of my favorite stories and, based on comments, popular among my readers (thankee!). It appears in my self-published Tales Told ‘Round Celestial Campfires, as an individual ebook The Goatmen of Aguirra: A Tale Told ‘Round Celestial Campfires, and was serialized in Piker Press in 2019. I’m sharing it here … Continue reading "The Goatmen of Aguirra, Part 9"

Thankful Turkeys Celebrate – Turkey Day of Infamy 2020 (is past)

Much like we did Safe for Another Year and celebrated in the original Thankful Turkeys Celebrate – Turkey Day of Infamy 2018, we celebrate Turkeys living past another Turkey Day of Infamy, this time last year’s 2020 (we wait until the holidays are over and we know they’re safe), and what a year it was, … Continue reading "Thankful Turkeys Celebrate – Turkey Day of Infamy 2020 (is past)"