Terry Odell's Blog, page 29
May 18, 2023
Vacation Travel
I’m getting ready to leave on a vacation. I’m at the ‘what do you have to bring’ phase, organizing clothes and gear. We’ll be on the MS Spitsbergen cruising from Bergen to Longyearbyen with numerous stops along the way. I’ve been looking forward to this trip since shortly after our Antarctica trip fizzled (thanks, United Airlines).
Fingers crossed that everything will go well for this trip. So far, we’ve had a few setbacks, like the airline cancelled the initial flight we were on...
May 16, 2023
Upcoming Zoom Workshops From Yours Truly
My editor has invited me to present workshops via Zoom on a variety of craft topics. The first, 12 Steps to Intimacy, is scheduled for June 17th and is a look into developing believable romantic relationships between characters. It doesn’t matter the genre, although romance is a focus, because readers expect that Happily Ever After, or the promise of one, and without building a foundation for that relationship, things aren’t likely to work out. However, ...
May 14, 2023
When the Lights Go Out
Red CrossbillWe had two days last week with extended power outages. We have a small generator, but its primary use is for powering up the StarLink dish, which—per the Hubster’s directive—was only to be used occasionally and for short periods of time. I opted to read. Yep, read. Dead Lions by Mick Herron.
Could I have worked on the WIP in longhand? Yes. Did I? No. The first day of power outage, which lasted about 9 hours, was an all-day snow day, so we hunkered down and ...
May 11, 2023
Friday Fun, Writing Edition
Some of my favorite memes that relate to writing.
For those who celebrate, have a nice weekend.
Available Now in digital, paperback, and audio formats
Deadly Relations.
Nothing Ever Happens in Mapleton … Until it Does
Gordon Hepler, Mapleton, Colorado’s Police Chief, is called away from a quiet Sunday with his wife to an emergency situation at the home he’s planning to sell. A man has chained himself to the front porch, threatening to set off an explosive.
The post Friday Fun, Writing Editio...
May 10, 2023
What’s Wrong With Was?
I’m over at The Kill Zone Blog today, talking about a “rule” I disagree with. Hop over and join the comments.
On another front, my editor, the publisher of Written Dreams, is starting to offer craft workshops. She’s asked me to contribute, and I’ll be starting with “12 Steps to Intimacy” on June 17th (tentatively).
Watch this space for more information.
Also, if there are topics you think would be interesting and worthwhile, let me know.
May 7, 2023
AI Fiction – Does it Compare?
Image by Gerd Altmann from PixabayWith all the fuss and bother about AI being used to write books, I couldn’t resist giving it a try. I’d used Chat GPT once before for tag lines, but I wanted to see what its fiction looked like. I gave the prompt that the Mapleton Chief of Police discovered a dead body in a diner restroom and requested it be written “in the style of Terry Odell’s Mapleton Mystery Series.” I know you can continue to refine the sample by adding or ch...
May 4, 2023
Friday Fotos – The Hood
Our dog insists on daily walks, so I thought I’d let you join us as we roam the neighborhood.
The post Friday Fotos – The Hood appeared first on Terry Odell.
May 2, 2023
An Author’s Take on Library Events
On Saturday, May 6th, I’ll be participating in the “Author Showcase” portion of the Pikes Peak Library Districts annual “Mountain of Authors” day. In a nutshell, the event has a room filled with authors displaying wares, giving away swag, selling books. There is a panel discussion featuring authors discussing various writing topics, a keynote presentation, and time for the public to wander the room checking out author tables.
As one of the authors who’s not on...
April 30, 2023
Watch the Stereotypes
I did a favor for a writing colleague not long ago. Initially, he’d said he wanted help with some romantic aspects of his mystery. He sent me pages, but by the time he did, he’d forgotten he asked about romance and sent me his opening chapters, ones he said he’d rewritten countless times.
I read them, gave him my feedback, but one thing that jumped off the page was his description of a character who (I assumed) was there to provide some frustration for his protagonist, and...
April 27, 2023
Friday Fotos – Panama
The Hubster went on a photo safari trip to Panama, and I’m sharing a few of his pictures today. He’s been working on post-processing a lot of the images, so these are preliminary versions.
For those who celebrate, have a great weekend
Available Now in digital, paperback, and audio formats
Deadly Relations.
Nothing Ever Happens in Mapleton … Until it Does
Gordon Hepler, Mapleton, Colorado’s Police Chief, is called away from a quiet Sunday with his wife to an emergency situation at the ho...
