Do you struggle with first-person narratives?

I do. Even though it’s my favorite point of view.

I love writing, and reading, first-person point of view stories. But getting it right can be a struggle. I was thrilled to read a recent post on writing techniques from Bookfox. 

Writing in First Person: 4 Tricks and 6 Pitfalls

The article breaks down the simple do’s and don’ts that make writing in first-person simpler and easier. And reminded me, there are some wonderful, famous authors who wrote in first-person. In addition to thousands of classic works of literature. Selecting first-person POV need not be a hindrance to good writing.

How these writing techniques clicked for me.

• To find a character’s voice, give them attitude.
• Do not let the narrator be dull. Don’t want to put your reader to sleep.
• Showcase your character’s blind spot. We all have them and so should a…

on Live Write Thrive site:

When presented with a manuscript, publishers are usually thinking ahead to marketing and how likely a book is to sell copies.

As authors, we tend to think of the audience for our website and social media as being our readers (often including a healthy dose of other authors). We often put to the back of our minds other audiences, who may be fewer in number but are nonetheless important groups. These include the media, agents and, of course, publishers.

But just how important is an author’s online platform for the acquisition process, and what elements do publishers look for on an author site?

To find answers, I contacted a large number of publishers with my questions, and a small number of generous souls replied.

Continue reading HERE

I went out on a limb again (hand, foot, leg and pinky this time) and asked some of my favourite bloggers if they might like to answer a few more of those burning questions we’re all thinking about. Because yes, the above question (and the others coming up in the next few weeks) were all sourced from you. So I must say, once again, thank you for the inspiration!

Today I’m bringing up the subject of trolling. You may have noticed there exists an online ‘code’ that dictates we should: never respond to the trolls ever!! EVER!! In some circumstances, yes, I completely agree (unless you enjoy a good verbal spar) but some people think you should also never even address the trolls.

Well… I decided to blog about trolling for three reasons, namely 1) to show other bloggers that they aren’t alone, 2) to let the trolls know they were

I confess I’m a bit of a couch potato. Both my day job (web development) and my passion (writing) require spending long hours in front of a monitor. Since I work from home, there are days I don’t even get out of the house. So, I was particularly intrigued by the notion that running can make me a better writer. Sounds crazy, right? And yet, Sadi Khan, a research analyst and writer at RunRepeat.com, makes a compelling case for running. Read on to see what I mean while I dust off my running shoes.

7 ways running can make you a better writer (backed by science)

Image: Pixabay

Writing is a passion. And becoming a good writer takes a lot of effort. You get a lot of great advice on how to improve your writing. But here, I present scientific proof that starting a running routine can make…

As promised, this is how I would lay out a video script for the same scenario as last week’s radio play. I’ve taken the part where the Green Giant chooses Englebert, the third under trainee front doorstep polisher at King Charming’s Palace to lead the happy peasants against their royal masters. He’s a cute friendly fellow five and a half short of a six pack.

You may notice that there are no descriptions as such, simply what you see and what is said. I have battled with the ‘show don’t tell’ as a result after writing hundreds of scripts. Writing novels is so very different and I’ve still got a lot to learn.

THE BOOK

“Come,” he commanded, “you will lead your people out of bondage. You will liberate their ills. You will speak for all the downtrodden in Charmingdon.”

“Me!” squeaked the man gazing into the Green Giant’s face…

5 One Minute Meditations For Mindfulness

Meditation is good for the mind, body, and soul but not everyone is able to set aside 20-30 minutes during the day for a full meditation routine or session. Other people think that mediation is too complicated therefore they won’t even bother giving it a try. However, most have us have one minute here and there throughout the day to ourselves. It doesn’t matter if it’s just upon waking, going to bed, in the shower, or preparing your coffee. You can even be stuck at a red light.

Today, I have some amazing one-minute meditations for you to try. They are even great for beginners and are so simple that anyone could master these! They will help relax your mind and body. It can also be very beneficial for stress and anxiety reduction. Try to give all five meditations a try!

5. Match…