Heather Wright's Blog, page 3

Writing Prompts for April 2019

Last week I presented a workshop at my local library, offering tips for writing great dialogue. Today, I’m sharing my resource links to help you keep your dialogue as fresh as the Spring we’re all waiting for. (My apologies for the layout below. WordPress has changed their blog formatting, and I’m still struggling to get it right.) RESOURCES FOR WRITING DIALOGUE 9 Rules for Writing Dialogue Harvey Chapman Five Tips on Writing Dialogue How to Write Effective Dialogue in Your Novel Gary Smailes https://bubblecow.com/posts/how-to-wr... Who Speaks? Pointers about Attribution in Dialogue  By Victoria Grossac http://www.writing-world.com/victoria... Do You Have “As You Know, Bob…” Syndrome?–How Writers Can Butcher Dialogue & How to Fix It By Marcy Kennedy http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2... Dialogue: Make Each Character ... Read more...

Writing prompts for march 2019

March came in like a lamb here, and despite a little foreboding about its exit in four weeks, I was very glad to say good-bye to February. I’m trying to think spring, despite the white stuff on the ground, so I’m putting my online Writing Camp for Teens on sale just in time for March/Spring Break. Please drop by here and check out the five days of activities that I’ve assembled for creative teens. I’m very excited to be working on a new non-fiction project for genre writers. I hope to have at least one of the planned books ready by the end of March, so I can share it with you in my next blog. I’m working on books ... Read more...

Writing Prompts for February 2019

I had an adventure last week and took my wares to the Ontario Library Association Super Conference. It was my first trade show experience, and I learned a lot. Travelling was complicated by extremely low temperatures and late-running trains, and on my return trip, I got to drag a one-wheeled, very heavy wheelie to the train station—three long blocks and still very cold. The actual trade show turned out to be lots of fun. I connected with some great people, sold some books, and had the pleasure of getting to know Kate Merlin Hanson, a publisher from New Brunswick (Chocolate River Publishing) whom I’d known for years on Facebook. She was even nicer in person. Though I won’t really know ... Read more...

WRITING PROMPTS FOR JANUARY 2019

Welcome to a 2019 full of more writing prompts and story ideas! I was all set to make a batch of resolutions for the new year, but changed my mind. I need some just-one-day-at-a-time living for a couple of weeks before I can sit back and get some perspective. I have a lot on my plate for the next three weeks, so I’ll keep the planning thoughts in the back of my brain for now. If you’re a resolution maker, I hope you are successful in reaching all your goals. I hope that you can also forgive yourself when life gets in the way and things don’t turn out quite the way you hoped. Someone said, “A year is 365 ... Read more...

A Lesson in Persistence

You want to be a published writer, but it’s a hard dream to hold onto, and there are times you want to give up. I’d like you to read another writer’s story. Jean Mills’ road to publication was  bumpy and long (very long), but this year her book, Skating Over Thin Ice, was published by RedDeer/Fitzhenry & Whiteside and nominated for the Ontario Library Association’s Red Maple Award. Read her inspiring story below and … don’t give up. Do you have a publishing dream? Here’s how mine went… (yes, it has a happy ending) November 18, 2018 Reposted with permission from Jean Mills When I was preparing for the Breaking In Panel at CANSCAIP’s annual Packaging Your Imagination conference, I knew ... Read more...

WRITING PROMPTS FOR FEBRUARY 2017

Welcome February! One more month closer to spring! This last month has been unrelentingly cloudy, and I’m more than ready for some sunny days. A little sunshine can go a long way to cheer up a cold, snowy day. So can escaping into a new story—either one you are reading or one you are writing. I love finding a new author who has already published a number of books because then I don’t have to wait any time at all to enjoy the entire series. I read all of Alan Bradley’s Flavia de Luce mysteries around this time last year. Now I’m impatiently waiting for the next one. Right now, I’m reading the Ruth Galloway mysteries by Elly Griffiths and ... Read more...

Writing Prompts for January 2017

I considered reflecting on the events of 2016, but frankly, there’s lots you really don’t want to know–honest. The above photo is from a family holiday that included visiting Seattle, WA and Victoria, BC. I have great memories of explorations in galleries, museums, rain forests and mountains–and quiet family times of reading while the sun set. I’m very grateful for that time with my family and for every morning that I wake up and know  that I’m another day further into my life after last year’s cancer surgery–and feeling gratitude is not a bad way to start a new year. But what will 2017 hold? I don’t know, but over the last couple of days I reread Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big ... Read more...

Writing Prompts for December 2016

I always enjoy the approach to the holidays. Decorating the house, planning meals, and even all the long-overdue cleaning and organizing are done with a lighter heart. It’s a musical time for us, too. My choir has a concert, my son’s university ensemble has a concert, and we all attend the local symphony’s holiday concert, joining my brother-in-law’s family for dinner afterwards. I hope that you and yours enjoy times filled with peace, love, and happiness in the coming weeks and that these feelings follow you through 2017. Though your writing time may be limited in December, I encourage you to take even 10 minutes out of your day to put a few words on the page. Typing at 25 ... Read more...

Writing Prompts for November 2016

If you’re launching into NaNoWriMo and still need a story idea, I hope that today’s prompts will give you a boost into your month of writing adventures. If you’re not in NaNo, I hope that you find some creative ideas to feed your stories for the rest of the month. For my readers in the US, this month hosts one of your favourite holidays, Thanksgiving. Here are some other special days celebrated this month that may give you a story idea or two: 1 All Saint’s Day 2 All Soul’s Day , 2 Deviled Egg Day 2 Look for Circles Day 2 Plan Your Epitaph Day 3 Housewife’s Day 3 Men Make Dinner Day – first Thursday of Month 3 ... Read more...

Writing Prompts for October 2016 & Accountability Group

Okay, where did September go? I had every intention of getting my writing life organized this month and managed no more than daily to-do lists—effective, but not quite what I had in mind. Anyone else struggling with this? I’m looking for some accountability partners to help get me, and each other, on track. Starting October 7, I’m going to be running an accountability group on my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/hwrightwriter/. You set your daily writing goals (they can include, planning, research, outlining, writing) and each day you just check in with a “done” to say you’ve met your goal. I’ll be posting daily so you’ll have a place to add your “done” to the comments. If you’re signing up for ... Read more...