Florence Witkop's Blog, page 37
July 23, 2018
I think I’ve almost finished writing a good novel, but I’ve lost focus and interest in finishing it — how can I best regain it?
The answer to this particular question is easy. I suspect I’m not the only writer out there who has learned the answer through experience. The answer is: Forget about it. Put is aside. Find a nice shelf and put the manuscript on it and cover it with a pile of other, more interesting, things until… Continue reading I think I’ve almost finished writing a good novel, but I’ve lost focus and interest in finishing it — how can I best regain it?
Heritage Quilts
The United States has a beautiful history of quilting, influenced by all of the different ethnic groups that settled here over the years, as well as the necessity of ingenuity and hard work to survive the early days. One tradition was for a young girl to make thirteen quilts before she was married, twelve for… Continue reading Heritage Quilts
July 22, 2018
Do MFA programs make you a better writer?
Maybe. Maybe not. And before I go on, in the interest of full disclosure, I must admit that I have a love-hate relationship with advanced degrees. I’ve loved some of my advanced classes and hated others. And I remember one time when the instructor went around the first day of class asking us what we… Continue reading Do MFA programs make you a better writer?
July 20, 2018
Golden Planet
If you somehow found a way to extract all of the gold from the bubbling core of our lovely little planet, you would be able to cover all of the land in a layer of gold up to your knees. (thanks, livin3 Fun Facts)
July 19, 2018
Is it true that there’s little to no money in writing fiction?
Sadly, that’s true. I read somewhere that the average fiction author earns $5,000 a year from his/her writing. However, the e-market is changing everything, including the potential for making as much money as you are willing to work for. And I do mean work. Two kinds of work are involved and each is equally important… Continue reading Is it true that there’s little to no money in writing fiction?
The first scene of my novel is a chase scene where two boys are being chased. But I haven’t revealed their names, so there’s a lot of “the first boy”, “the other boy”, “then the other boy” for 4 pages and it’s confusing . How can I fix this?
Reading this question, I had a couple thoughts. Questions. The answers to the questions indicate how to handle the scene. First, is it necessary to distinguish which boy is doing what? Does it matter or are you mainly trying to get across that two boys are being chased? If it doesn’t matter, then don’t worry…
Every child should have wonderful memories of long ago days
One of the most important things about childhood is that you should always know someone who lets you play in their jewelry box. My favorite aunt let my sisters and try on all her jewelry, which we often took advantage of on a slow Sunday afternoon. She had a mesmerizing pink pearl ring, lots of very long… Continue reading Every child should have wonderful memories of long ago days
Still More Facts About Cats
* The oldest known cat was Creme Puff, who lived to be 38 years old. * Here’s another reason to spay/neuter: it increases life expectancy! Neutered male cats live twice as long, and spayed females live 62% longer than their intact peers. * Studies show that ethologically, pet owners may serve as a sort of surrogate… Continue reading Still More Facts About Cats
July 18, 2018
What are tips you would share with someone wanting to write a fictional story?
There is a craft to writing short fiction: Learn how to put a story together. Take a class, read a book, do whatever it takes to learn the craft of telling a short story. Pretend that the story really happened. It should seem real to the reader, so it should also seem real as it… Continue reading What are tips you would share with someone wanting to write a fictional story?
Adorable, Expensive Baby Pandas
Pandas are adorable, but are they worth a million bucks? Zoos that want a panda have to pay about a million dollars a year to the Chinese government for the privilege of hosting just one panda. And that’s before the costs of a habitat, food, and care. And if you want a baby panda (and… Continue reading Adorable, Expensive Baby Pandas
