Monday Miscellany

I write likeJane AustenI Write Like by Mémoires, journal software. Analyze your writing!



Yep that's what the analyzer had to offer up from my writing sample. I used the first paragraph from a piece of fiction I'm working on right now. How they came up with Jane, I'll never know. Give the analyzer a shot and tell us who you write like.





More Miscellany: This is December 19 and we only have five days until Christmas. So I'll send my holiday best wishes to all my friends and fellow bloggers and hope that during this holiday season you all share beautiful moments with the ones who mean the most to you.





Don't forget to ask for a present from me. Here's the POST in case you missed it. I have books and ARCs to send off as well as an eBook with short stories, so let me know if you want one.







My favorite quote for today is: "Talent hits a target no one else can hit; genius hits a target no one else can see." Schopenhauer



Here's three things to keep in mind while you're creating those stories. I love them because they're simple, easy to understand and effective.



1. Take your characters to a dark place. ASAP

2. Have your characters make the wrong decision. BAD is GOOD--HORRIBLE is BETTER

3. Give your characters a secret. What do they have under the bed? What don't they want anyone in the world to know? YUMMM. Love those secrets.Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09