Ellis Vidler's Blog, page 4
November 5, 2016
Excerpt from Time of Death
If Alex could ever get a damn paper,
she’d read the ads. What was happening in the world? Why did their newspaper
disappear every day. Mr. Foley’s son swore he left it every morning. An idea
dawned, and she smacked herself in the forehead, then grabbed the phone book.
“Mr. Foley, what time does your son
deliver the paper to Isobel Devore?” She’d see what happened to it for herself.
“Thanks.”
she’d read the ads. What was happening in the world? Why did their newspaper
disappear every day. Mr. Foley’s son swore he left it every morning. An idea
dawned, and she smacked herself in the forehead, then grabbed the phone book.
“Mr. Foley, what time does your son
deliver the paper to Isobel Devore?” She’d see what happened to it for herself.
“Thanks.”
October 18, 2016
The importance and influence of setting
Blue Ridge
I’ve been thinking about setting because I’m working on two
stories in quite different environments. One is in Mexico and the other the
Blue Ridge Mountains. The mountain setting is near me and I can easily go
there. Mexico, especially the jungle in Chiapas, is much more difficult. I
spent some time in Toluca and loved it, but I never got to Chiapas. It’s
requiring a lot of
I’ve been thinking about setting because I’m working on two
stories in quite different environments. One is in Mexico and the other the
Blue Ridge Mountains. The mountain setting is near me and I can easily go
there. Mexico, especially the jungle in Chiapas, is much more difficult. I
spent some time in Toluca and loved it, but I never got to Chiapas. It’s
requiring a lot of
September 22, 2016
First in the McGuire Women Psychic books
#FREE Kindle ebook 9/22-25
HAUNTING REFRAIN
Excerpt
http://authl.it/18f?d
Rita Nelson opened
the door for them. “Come in. I told them you were coming.” She gestured toward
the darkened room behind her. An older woman with short gray hair pointed a
remote control at a softly murmuring television set, and the orange-skinned
characters faded away.
The man, slumped in
a worn brown
HAUNTING REFRAIN
Excerpt
http://authl.it/18f?d
Rita Nelson opened
the door for them. “Come in. I told them you were coming.” She gestured toward
the darkened room behind her. An older woman with short gray hair pointed a
remote control at a softly murmuring television set, and the orange-skinned
characters faded away.
The man, slumped in
a worn brown
July 16, 2016
Misplaced Modifiers
Something I read recently brought modifier placement to mind. A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that describes
another word, phrase, or clause. Modifiers should be placed as close as
possible to the word modified. Misplaced modifiers, those that are improperly
separated from the noun they modify, change the meaning.
Copyright : Andrey Kiselev
I had a bag of apples from our tree in the
another word, phrase, or clause. Modifiers should be placed as close as
possible to the word modified. Misplaced modifiers, those that are improperly
separated from the noun they modify, change the meaning.
Copyright : Andrey Kiselev
I had a bag of apples from our tree in the
March 10, 2016
Through the character's eyes
Unless you use your author voice
as a narrator in your story, general wisdom says the narrative should be
written in the voice and through the eyes of the viewpoint character. The
reasoning behind this is first to avoid confusion for the reader. The
character doing the thinking should always be clear. Second, using a single POV
per scene should make the reader’s experience stronger and help
as a narrator in your story, general wisdom says the narrative should be
written in the voice and through the eyes of the viewpoint character. The
reasoning behind this is first to avoid confusion for the reader. The
character doing the thinking should always be clear. Second, using a single POV
per scene should make the reader’s experience stronger and help
November 3, 2015
POV and Dialogue with Billy and Redge
Here's something I was thinking about that's often a problem--scenes with no clear point of view or image of what's happening.
Consider the
following conversations between Billy and Redge. Which is easier to picture or
gives you a visual image of the two brothers and what they’re feeling?
“I got to tell you something, Billy,” said
Redge.
“What?”
“I killed Mooney,” he said with a nod.
“You
Consider the
following conversations between Billy and Redge. Which is easier to picture or
gives you a visual image of the two brothers and what they’re feeling?
“I got to tell you something, Billy,” said
Redge.
“What?”
“I killed Mooney,” he said with a nod.
“You
October 30, 2015
Haunting Refrain, Audible.com
This is an excerpt from Ha...
Haunting Refrain, Audible.com
This is an excerpt from Haunting Refrain, suspense with a little romance and a touch of paranormal.
Martin looked sick. “Do you have any feeling about the person strangling her? Was it someone she knows?”
“A man, I think. I couldn't see, but I have an impression of size and strength that suggests a man. That's all.” She looked up at him. “Please tell me what
This is an excerpt from Haunting Refrain, suspense with a little romance and a touch of paranormal.
Martin looked sick. “Do you have any feeling about the person strangling her? Was it someone she knows?”
“A man, I think. I couldn't see, but I have an impression of size and strength that suggests a man. That's all.” She looked up at him. “Please tell me what
October 3, 2015
What makes memorable characters?
Jack Nicholson, always memorable
Why do some stories touch us so much that
we return to them and the characters again and again? Why do the characters
come back to visit our dreams many times?
Maybe part of it is the way each
character’s story resolves itself—not necessarily happily but in a just and
satisfying way. Sometimes the resolution isn’t what we expect, but if it seems
to fit, if
Why do some stories touch us so much that
we return to them and the characters again and again? Why do the characters
come back to visit our dreams many times?
Maybe part of it is the way each
character’s story resolves itself—not necessarily happily but in a just and
satisfying way. Sometimes the resolution isn’t what we expect, but if it seems
to fit, if
September 19, 2015
Writing Action Scenes
I
Grizzlies play fight, San Francisco Zoo
n an action scene, one in which the emotions are high and the reader is on the edge of the seat, the mood is tense, the writing tight. Use all the senses, the coppery taste of blood, the cold sting of the rain, the smell of old fish. Limit the number of adjectives (descriptive words). Cut any that aren’t absolutely necessary. Find strong verbs and let
Grizzlies play fight, San Francisco Zoo
n an action scene, one in which the emotions are high and the reader is on the edge of the seat, the mood is tense, the writing tight. Use all the senses, the coppery taste of blood, the cold sting of the rain, the smell of old fish. Limit the number of adjectives (descriptive words). Cut any that aren’t absolutely necessary. Find strong verbs and let
September 12, 2015
Oh, those flying body parts!
Have you ever heard the term “flying body parts”? Flying
body parts occur when the parts act independently of the person.
Most of us are guilty of occasionally writing them into our
work. They do slip in, especially with eyes. Her eyes swept the room. We all know what that means, but such
statements conjure up bizarre pictures and can take the reader right out of the
story. Do you see the
body parts occur when the parts act independently of the person.
Most of us are guilty of occasionally writing them into our
work. They do slip in, especially with eyes. Her eyes swept the room. We all know what that means, but such
statements conjure up bizarre pictures and can take the reader right out of the
story. Do you see the
