Never Stop Failing

Donna Judy Curtin Leave a comment
Photo by Valentyn Chernetskyi on Unsplash

This blog is late.

Yup, late. 

Last week I checked out. Took time off work. Left behind the chores and the weedy garden to travel away with cherished family to do… absolutely nothing… especially writing.

I’ve had some hard knocks recently; got a couple tough query rejections, received difficult to hear–yet needed–feedback from trusted critique partners that required a major rewrite (feedback delivered in a respectful and kind manner) and then I got decimated by a toxic beta-reader. I’m still not sure of their motives. This writer/editor/reader may know their craft and have valid and helpful critiques… but the manner with which they delivered their opinion shattered my confidence and stole my writing joy. Then… the imposter-syndrome-struggle-bus parked outside my front door. I’m still pondering the reflection.

So, I decided to take a vacation, from life and my writing. Read more

A Writer’s Support System

Diane Ferguson Leave a comment
Photo by Nick Morrison on Unsplash

I’m starting a new novel. I’ve started it a few times, but the old novel kept calling me back for more edits. This new novel has lived in my subconscious for a while, maybe too long? Am I sure it’s where I went to spend the next few years? Are these characters the ones I want to spend time with?

I believe so. They’ve stuck with me and so have their story lines, shifting and evolving. At first, I thought it was the daughter’s story, but now I’m firmly entrenched that it’s the mother’s story. I am considering three viewpoints, but the mother keeps coming through so strong, I’m not sure there’s room for others. To be determined.

Read more

Capturing Iconic Friendship in Fiction

Lori Twining Leave a comment
High School Girls’ Reunion in Haliburton ~ 2023

What comes to mind when you read the words “Iconic Friendship” in the title above?

For me, I think of the people in my life who would do anything for me, no matter what I asked of them (even if I requested help to make a body disappear). They would not question me because they know I would never ask for assistance unless it was absolutely necessary.

If I had a sister, I’m one hundred percent positive she would be the one I would call. She would kill someone for me without hesitation and tell no one about it, and I would do the same for her. Unfortunately, I was only blessed with one sibling, and my brother would not break the law for me, no matter how I repaid him. Yeah, he’s one of those no-rule-breaking-kind-of-guys who thinks committing a crime is wrong (unless our mother asks him to do it, then he might consider it).

Read more

My Kind Of Day

Kelly Babcock Leave a comment

My Father's Watch
Time for a story, if you don’t mind.

Fifty to sixty years ago, these third Sundays in June would be spent quietly. We’d wish our father a happy Fathers’ Day and that would mostly be it. My father enjoyed reading and sometimes he’d do that on Sundays. Fathers’ Day was not much different.

I know I’m supposed to be writing about writing, but I have something to say. And this is one of the few forums left me these days so you just listen. It won’t take long and then I’ll be gone for some weeks before there’s another post here from me.

Fathers’ Day, sometimes we’d go fishing, or we’d have a barbecue. But those things happened on other Sundays, even on other days. Beyond wishing dad a happy day and maybe trying to be a little Read more

Put Your Character Through a Personality Quiz

Donna Judy Curtin Leave a comment

In our veterinary hospital, we have been focusing on culture. Having been in practice for over twenty years, I will attest to the fact that the make up of a practice culture is deep rooted. It has to do with understanding our ‘why’, having a shared vision, an environment free from harassment and the safety net of respect. I’ve learned it also involves investing in communication. Of course, communicating with pet owners is paramount, but in my experience, one of the largest contributors to a positive practice culture is the communication among staff members.

https://www.learn2.com/knowing-your-colours/

We recently engaged in all team training called Communicate Naturally, where we learned about different communication styles or personality types. We had to complete a quiz, assigning words to describe our true selves and how we see and react to the world.

As we learned about four different colours, or communication/personality types and where we may be on this colour spectrum, I couldn’t help but wonder what colour my main character would be. Then I started to think about my favourite book & movie characters and what their colour might be. Read more

Three Classic Horror Stories

Seana Moorhead Leave a comment
Image by Sandy Flowers from Pixabay

I recently read three classic horror stories: Frankenstein, Dracula and the Haunting of Hill House.  Although I had heard of these books and I had absorbed through popular culture what I understood to be their basic plot line (ie. Frankenstein: mad scientist creates a monster; Dracula: vampire in Transylvania; and Haunting of Hill House: a haunting house that kills.). But I had never read the original books. 

Popular culture does not do justice to any of these stories. I was surprised by how good these books are and how unexpectedly enjoyable they are to read.  

Read more

Searching for COMPS and Writing BOOK REVIEWS

Donna Judy Curtin Leave a comment

One way you can support other writers as an aspiring author, is to write book reviews! Maybe it’s a quick tweet, or a full review on Goodreads or a note of praise on Audible. Regardless, there are writing skills to be sharpened from reviewing books. Not only are you reading, but in writing a review, you hone your critical eye for what readers enjoy. Then you can learn how to apply similar traits to your own work-in-progress to make it shine and someday receive 5 star reviews!

I’m on a journey to find the perfect comp (comparable) titles. (For the reasons why comp titles are important… check out this link from agent, Carly Watters.) So far, my best advice is to START EARLY! It’s shocking how much time goes into researching similar books, acquiring those books, reading them, and then writing summaries for novels that may compare to mine. No doubt, as a writer and reader, immersing myself in books is a-bucket-load of fun… but it sure is time consuming.

While searching for comp titles, here are a few simple rules to follow: Read more

Why Do I Write?

Kelly Babcock Leave a comment

Rebuilt BBQ
I felt like I should have been grilling myself for details on how this happened.

Why would I waste all this time writing? Well, the hope is that I will make an impression, as I told you in my last post here. But this week I came up with another justification.

Let me explain

And by “explain” I mean let me tell you a story. A few days ago I went looking online for a rebuild kit for the cottage BBQ. I located one finally. Not at the hardware store where I bought the BBQ of course, they don’t deal in that kind of hardware. I found one at the dreaded Amazon. And as luck would have it there were two left.

Did I click “buy now?” Read more