Jay Cardam's Blog, page 2
October 31, 2017
Want to visit!
It had long been suspected by mainstream archaeology about the existence of a theater in the ancient city of Thouria. And the theory has been confirmed by the identification of a major segment of a theater-like structure at the site (dating back to 4th century BC), located on the outskirts of Kalamata city in southern…
October 19, 2017
For aspiring writers
Amen, brother!
Here’s a little post for aspiring writers—just a few tips that I hope will speed you on your way:
You should treat your writing project as though it’s so much clay, there to be shaped and molded at your whim. That is to say that in order to achieve the desired final result, you sometimes have to add things, embellish a bit here and there, and you sometimes have to lop things off wholesale; those things that don’t contribute to the overall project in a meaningful way, must be scrapped. The most direct way of stating this is that you must be perfectly willing to waste words. Words are your stock-in-trade. No book is ever written except that it’s done One Word At A Time. After the first draft stage, you may have a few dozen, possibly hundreds, and even thousands of words that don’t add anything to the story…
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October 17, 2017
What is it about Historicals? Escapism and Education!
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I think Ms. George hits it right on the nose! Got it from Washington Independent Book Reviews.
Margaret George: In an interview on A Writer of History, Margaret George says: “I think the combination of escapism and education is what fuels a top historical fiction author. People want to escape into another time but they want to learn about that time as well. [The history] should not serve as just wallpaper against which the action takes place.”She specializes in fictional biographies of famous women like Helen of Troy, Mary Magdalene (Mary Called Magdalene) and Cleopatra (The Memoirs of Cleopatra).
October 14, 2017
The Dates are Set!
[image error]The Cuenca International Writers Conference May 28-June1, 2018 This year’s conference promises to be even bigger and better. I plan to be there. Join us for an exciting week of learning, sharing, networking, and exploring in one of the loveliest cities imaginable!
For further information: http://cuencawritersconference.com/ho...
August 31, 2017
Coming along!
[image error]Working the plot outline for Numerius #3…Numerius Meridius Pulcher and the Case of the Prodigious Prefect.
July 15, 2017
Book 2 of Numerius Series Free!
Wanted to let you know that the new Numerius Meridius Pulcher book is FREE this weekend on Amazon. [image error]
June 23, 2017
Parracide—a special punishment named Poena Cullei.
Interesting article on a form of punishment I have heard about over the years, but knew little about. Frankly, I can’t imagine how one would get all these into a sack, not a job I would want to take on.
Ancient Romans had a penchant for doling out punishments in rather theatrical fashion, with one pertinent example relating to the noxii, the criminals who were mainly accused of robbery, murder and rape. At times, the noxii were simply used as living props who were unarmored (or sometimes dressed in ‘show’ armor), and then declared as…
via Poena cullei: The bizarre ancient Roman punishment reserved for parricide — Realm of History
June 22, 2017
We’re in! New desk! New Front yard! Same incredible wife!
We are official Louisiana residents once again! Whether we are Ponchatoula or Hammond residents depends on what agency or service you talk to. Same goes for the street– Halbert Lane or Halbert Road. The post office says road, the legal description on our Title says Lane. They agree on Hammond, but trash, internet, direct tv, and water services, etc, are about equally divided. 90% of boxes unpacked (down to the ones that we’ll get to “some day” , and now I have a place to work where I have that front yard view. No more excuses, it’s back to work time. Still lots of fixing and painting to do, so, if you’re just missing the joys of having a project, drop on by.
Should have seen me driving the 26 foot truck from St. Augustine to Thomasville to here! But we made it, furniture and people intact. Had the help of Austin Ridley in Thomasville, which was not only a godsend but a pleasurable catch-up time with him and update on his first year at Wabash.
April 18, 2017
Had to follow this one! Check it out!
Three authors of historical fiction joined forces to create History Imagined, a blog for writers and readers who relish the opportunity to imagine long-gone worlds.
via History Imagined — Discover
April 6, 2017
Writing Groups
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I belong to a writer’s group. We meet on Wednesdays in Cuenca, Ecuador from 12:00 to 3:00 at a local restaurant. Most of us arrive early to eat lunch before we begin. Now, I’ve belonged to quite a few groups, starting way back in my early college days…Groups where the individuals were so focused on showing how much they know about writing, groups where they are so ready not only to tell you how to write, but what you should write about. Most of these groups were pretty useless to me, but I did pick up some valuable things from them. The problem was I didn’t stay long, the sessions were a grueling exercise of slash and burn critique, clashing egos, and, in the end, dispiriting.
This group works! We bring material…no more than 1500 words, must bring copies, double spaced, readable font, which we pass out to everyone. After the writer reads his/her selection we go around the table and comment. Comments are the personal opinion of the speaker and for the most part stated as such. Very few “must, should, can’t” statements. More “I would like more…I wonder…I don’t understand…statements.”
The hard part for me when I first joined was that the writer is not allowed to speak, no explanations…just sit there and listen. That now is my favorite thing about the group, that and getting the copies back with everyone’s notes on them. Not being able to respond, defend, explain, what I was doing forces me to listen and hear what the reader is reading in my work, not what I meant to write. It’s good for me. It works. I am writing more and I am writing better.
Try it, join a group, one that actually gets together in person, or online. Find one that works for you.
