Deborah Adams's Blog, page 18

Interview : Evy Journey, author of The Golden Manuscript

A short interview wherein my guest, one of my favorite authors, answers questions about the writing life.

Q: What did you remove from the final draft that readers might like to see?

I deleted an opening scene from the Epilogue (Spring 2010) and a whole chapter just before that written in the male character’s POV, disclosing his feelings for Clarissa, and what happens after she kisses him. More intimate, it’s part emotional hook/part deeper characterization, but I decided it would d...

You have a great idea! But will it be a great book?

guest post by Michelle Waitzman

I was recently asked in an interview, “How do you know which of your ideas you should turn into a book?” As a non-fiction author, my ideas for books are triggered by my curiosity about a particular subject. For novelists, they might come from a snippet of overheard conversation, a news story, or even a dream. Most authors are “ideas people,” who are constantly thinking of potential new topics or stories. But not all ideas will make a great book.

I’ve put...

Find Your Fictional Character’s Energy Motivators – Part 7 : Consciousness

Using an ancient philosophy of energy to help you create better charactersImage by Ben Johnson from Pixabay

This is the seventh and final part of a series of posts that exist across multiple blogs. You can find links to the other posts in the series here.

We’ve discussed the four lower Energies and the two higher Energy in those previous posts. Now we come to the highest level Energy—Consciousness, or a state of being in which the inner journey is close to final destination. Those who...

Kirsten Weiss ~ Three Questions & a Cover

A short interview wherein my guest, one of my favorite authors, answers three questions about the writing life.

Question 1

Do you create elaborate outlines for your books? If so, can you explain the process (briefly)? Or do you fly by the seat of your pants? If so, do you have any tricks you use to keep yourself from crashing?

I usually create very loose outlines of my books, and then get into trouble about halfway through the writing! It’s hair-pulling. But I’ve also found that...

Mandy Haynes – Three Questions & a Cover

Three Questions and a Cover — a short interview with one of my favorite authors, along with one of the author’s covers.

My guest today is the multi-talented Mandy Haynes. I think you’ll be surprised by some of what she reveals in this interview. Apparently she was, too.

Question: What one piece of advice can you offer to a writer who has yet to tackle the publishing world?

Do it! If you have a story that you want to tell, tell it. Nobody else has your voice. 

Question: Do you...

Melissa Helton ~ 3 Questions & a Poem

3 Questions and a Poem–in which one of my favorite poets is interviewed and shares a poem.

Image by cromaconceptovisual from PixabayQUESTION 1

What do you consider the three most important elements of a poem?

The number one experience I need from a poem is to see the world in a different way by the time I’m done with it. A poem that is beautiful words about a beautiful garden isn’t very engaging to me after a few lines. There has to be something new you’re showing me. Either show me...

Five of the Best Places I’ve Visited

The good people over at Long and Short Reviews have set forth a list of topics for their Wednesday Blogging Challenge in 2021. I encourage you to take a look at the list and join in, whether you actually post on your blog or write about the topic in your journal or simply mull it over in your head. If you do post, though, leave a note and the link to your on-topic post in the comments here so we can all enjoy it.

Travel. Remember when we did that? But global pandemics and stay-home orders...

10 Things You Should Never Say to a Writer

Maybe your intentions are good or maybe you just don’t understand how very fragile and pathetic is the writer’s ego, but some things should NOT be said to a writer. You may get a bland smile and mumbled semi-gracious reply, but what the writer says and what the writer thinks…ah! vast gap between those two.

1. Are you still writing your little books?

Writer thinks: Yes. And thanks for reminding me that I need to buy more crayons so I can finish the illustrations.

2. Have you bee...

b.read.crumbs : Communing

I’m writing this post during a Rhizosphere co-working session. These are Zoom sessions hosted by Janisse Ray, and they’re free to join. If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, you can sign up here: The Rhizosphere

Maybe you’re wondering why I sign in to Zoom, and spend an hour or so in silence along with a small group of other writers while each of us focuses on our own work and ignores everybody on the screen. Well, we aren’t really ignoring each other. At least, I’m not. I am keenly...

Writers Are Always/ Never Writing

Being a writer means being constantly pregnant, waddling along while the story inside you develops. It arrives when it’s ready and not one minute sooner. After all that agony and misery, we swear we’ll get this over with and never ever do it again. And then the seductive voices in our heads start calling.…

At a popular regional book festival, an avid reader walks into the ladies’ room and sees a small group of authors listening attentively to one of the festival’s featured authors. Some o...