While outlining “The Holders…” I found better places for character introductions and discovered plot holes before they were written out. Because I got a big picture view and made sure I saw the forest instead of just one tree, I was able to talk some of these plot holes through. This was with someone who […]
Author: Gear and Pen
You Are What You Eat: Food Additives
Have you ever actually read the labels on the prepared foods that are produced for the majority of the population to pick up and to throw in the microwave or to eat straight out of the package? If you have, you’ve probably been bombarded with a long list of almost as long words, the pronunciation […]
Reviewing Self-published Children’s Books with Submission Guidelines
Those of my readers who write children’s books have probably noticed a difficulty in obtaining reviews because many book bloggers don’t seem interested in children’s books, or willing to take requests even if they do review children’s books. How exactly is a new children’s book author supposed to get reviews when they need reviews to […]
5 Movies for Valentine’s Day: Good Viewing for Writers.
It will soon be that time again when everything is flowers, roses, chocolates, and romance. Whether you have a significant other or are going stag this year, many of us tend to turn our thoughts to the idea of love, but who says love is only about romance? Here are five movies that involve romance […]
“My Top 5 Teas for Writing” Or “Stay for a Cuppa”
I’m sure most of my readers are aware of the soothing and focusing powers of a warm drink. Some of you might be coffee drinkers, but what about those who have caffeine sensitivities, or those who write in the evening when having that cup of coffee is not advisable? These are my top 5 teas […]
Remembering One of the Greats: Eve Bunting.
This is not one of my usual posts. I simply want to bring attention to the heavy blow the world of children’s picture books has received. I was going about my day doing research about how to choose an illustrator. I was looking for images of art I liked in order to show […]
“Not Enough Time on My Hands.” Or “Finding Time to Write.”
How do you find time to write? Well, this seems to be something that comes up a lot as I’m reading blogs and books on writing. It has been something that has been a problem for me because when I write, I really get into the world I am trying to make and once I […]
AI: Artistic Augmenter or Creative Death.
AI has been in the news a lot lately. It is the source of much controversy. Even those who helped create it are now warning against it. Yet, many will aggressively defend it. Who is correct? Personally, I feel that the people who know the most about AI, such as those directly involved in its creation, would […]
Netflix: Starving the artist
I did have another post I was going to put on my blog, however, since this came up while I was in the process of polishing said post, I suppose I will have to post it later. I am sure many, if not all of you, are aware of the writers’ and actors’ strikes. I […]
“What a Character.” Or “Character Building: Inspiration Vs. Planning.”
I wonder if anyone is beginning to notice a theme in some of my posts. I keep coming back to this matter because the consideration of inspiration versus planning is important to any creative endeavor. As I am going along on my writing journey, I, as could be expected, have come across both. Therefore, let […]