Cathy Perkins's Blog, page 124
March 18, 2015
A WOMAN'S PEROGATIVE
A WOMAN’S PEROGATIVE
I had another posting ready for today but decided to put up this one instead. The reason for the switch is a blog by Ryan Boudinot I read recently entitled, “Things I Can Say About MFA Writing Programs Now That I No Longer Teach In One.” If you happened to come across it, you may have had a strong reaction to it. As I did. And as over eighty-five commenters (as of this writing) did also.
In case you haven’t read the blog, you may be interested to kno...
March 16, 2015
Who Loves Good Timing?
I think the title kind of says it all. I mean, I could've titled this blog: Who DOESN'T Love Good Timing? but that seemed too negative so I went the other way. (I'm stalling.) But really, it's not very often I'm scheduled to blog when I also have a new cover and new release in the near future, so I'm glad this month timed out perfectly.
I don't know about you, but life's been kicking my ass lately. I've been spending crazy hours at the hospital with my sister after her 2 day back surgery (and...
I don't know about you, but life's been kicking my ass lately. I've been spending crazy hours at the hospital with my sister after her 2 day back surgery (and...
March 13, 2015
Friday the 13th
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March 11, 2015
Thinking through Evil Motivations
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March 9, 2015
Old Dogs, New Tricks
by Daryl Andersonwww.darylanderson.org
It’s a cliché that writing is a lonely job. I don’t know if I’d go that far, but it’s certainly solitary, which is why I have dogs. Their unconditional love and easy companionship make the whole business of writing a little less lonely.
At least 99% of the time…and it’s that other 1% that’s been bothering me of late.
I suppose it started with Pitch, the stray puppy I brought home several months earlier who decided that his mission in life was to chew his w...
March 6, 2015
Strong Women: Building a Character’s Background
Posted by Sandy Parkswww.sandyparksauthor.com
This week includes and celebrates Worldwide Women in Aviation week, Women in Construction week, International Women’s Day, and Women’s History month. Whew, and I probably missed a few. That’s great to know, but what do these celebrations have to do with building characters?
Any writer wants their female protagonist to be strong (or achieve that through the story), but her background must explain how she became a doctor/lawyer/pilot/spy when she came...
This week includes and celebrates Worldwide Women in Aviation week, Women in Construction week, International Women’s Day, and Women’s History month. Whew, and I probably missed a few. That’s great to know, but what do these celebrations have to do with building characters?
Any writer wants their female protagonist to be strong (or achieve that through the story), but her background must explain how she became a doctor/lawyer/pilot/spy when she came...
March 4, 2015
Let's talk about a movie!
I went to see American Sniper on the weekend. I've read a lot of autobiographies written by soldiers and SEALs who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, but I hadn't read this one. (I confess I knew the movie was coming and I'm lazy).
First off, let me say, I loved the movie. I've read a lot of the criticism aimed at the film but for me it was a simple story following one man's life as a SEAL and the effect that life had on his marriage. The whole movie is perfectly shot. The graphic horror--the spe...
March 1, 2015
I Spy: OUTLINING
Join the authors and friends of Not Your Usual Suspects for an occasional series of posts about their world of reading, writing and publishing.
Short and sweet, hopefully both informative and entertaining - join us at I-Spy to find out the how's and why's of what we do.
TODAY'S POST: I-Spy something beginning with ...
OUTLINING!I’m a passionate fan of outlining, especially for novels with extensive world building and plot twists, red herrings and clues. They keep my deta...
February 27, 2015
Mary Sue and You - How Much of Ourselves Do We Put in Our Novels?
by Janis Patterson
One of the more peculiar kinds of book is known somewhat disparagingly as the Mary Sue. Although it can occur in any genre, it seems most prevalent in romance and marginally less so in mystery and usually but not always is the offering of a beginning or very amateurish writer. The generally accepted definition of a Mary Sue book is that the protagonist is always just too perfect – too beautiful/handsome, too smart, too brave, too kind, too loveable, too adored by everyone th...
One of the more peculiar kinds of book is known somewhat disparagingly as the Mary Sue. Although it can occur in any genre, it seems most prevalent in romance and marginally less so in mystery and usually but not always is the offering of a beginning or very amateurish writer. The generally accepted definition of a Mary Sue book is that the protagonist is always just too perfect – too beautiful/handsome, too smart, too brave, too kind, too loveable, too adored by everyone th...
February 25, 2015
The Ugly Truth
Here’s a dirty little confession: I get jealous sometimes.
I’ve been blessed with great writing friends. They cheer me on when I’m up and support me when I’m down, and I like to think I do the same for them as they struggle in this crazy profession of ours.
But every once in a while, when they experience greater success in their writing than I do, I get jealous.
This isn’t an easy admission. Jealousy is petty. It turns me into a small-minded, mean-spirited version of myself that I really don’t l...
I’ve been blessed with great writing friends. They cheer me on when I’m up and support me when I’m down, and I like to think I do the same for them as they struggle in this crazy profession of ours.
But every once in a while, when they experience greater success in their writing than I do, I get jealous.
This isn’t an easy admission. Jealousy is petty. It turns me into a small-minded, mean-spirited version of myself that I really don’t l...
