Direction Connection
Which way did he go? North. East. South. West. Directions are often used symbolically. In which direction a character heads often foreshadows his moral growth or decline. There is, however, one important caveat to note. The literary symbolism associated with direction...Conflict Collection
CONFLICT: It makes us turn the page, swoosh the e-reader screen, or keep watching. Superficial or profound, it drives the story forward, creates tension, and forces the protagonist to grow. Great novels have both external and internal conflicts. Man vs Man: Including...Word Spangled Banner
O say can you read by the computer’s LCD what so proudly we wrote during our last creative gleaming, whose broad themes and trite tropes shows the protag’s deep need, o’ver the keyboard we typed, with much symbolic meaning. And the misspellings red...Perspectives in Reading
Each reader brings his or her unique perspective to a novel! Professors even discuss the impact and implications of these viewpoints in literature classes. Different cultures, education levels, interests, and experiences all influence the ways a reader understands a...The Shape of Crazy
Writing, by its very nature, requires a bit—OK, a whole universe of Crazy! And, yes, Crazy is capitalized because it’s an entity—without form or substance—yet decidedly a force. In fact, all creative tasks are imbued with Crazy. Crazy takes many forms, many shapes....Greek Geekery
You did it! You opened Pandora’s Box! You told EVERYONE you were writing a book! Now, how will you lord over your manuscript while Mounting the Olympian task? Which of the 13 Greek Gods most resemble your writing world ? Zeus King of the Gods You plan on...Flo Write & the Seven Inspiration Dwarfs
Nothing feels better than words flying from brain to fingers to page! Bliss, yes? But it doesn’t always work that way. Sometimes for optimum writing flow we need the help of all the seven inspiration dwarfs…because, you know, ” hi ho , ho ho,...Writing Forecast
Everyone understands a weather forecast! Most of us have an app on our phone and refer to it daily. Ever feel like a writing forecast might come in handy to explain your writing plans or frame of mind? Imagine the convenience for those living with you! Your writing...Writing Reign Deer
Well dearie, Does inspiration rain down on you? OR Perhaps a...12 days of ( Writing ) Christmas
Christmas songs—Christmas songs—Christmas songs! Here are a few lesser-known favorites of writers everywhere. ( sing to The Twelve day of Christmas) ( sing to Jingle Bells ) ( sing to Frosty the Snowman ) ( sing to Santa Claus is Coming to Town )...Garden of Symbolism
Nature is a symbolic powerhouse that can add depth and complexity to a novel. ( See the Symbolism post for how and why you might want to include one or two.) Plants and trees and all-things-nature may be used in a variety of literary ways! As: a metaphor a...ABC’s of Writing
Aim high. Ambition + Ability = Accomplishment Block out time for writing. Make it a habit. Characterization. Names, dialog, physical descriptions, and actions all contribute to revealing character. For an in-depth look click CHARACTERIZATION. Despair not! No matter...Talkin’ Turkey
Or How to Carve Out Time for Writing When You Have a Day Job! Oh, and it’s not JUST writing your novel! Building a social media platform and blogging gobbles up time as well! So in the honor of Thanksgiving, this blog is dedicated to the many thankful ways this...Writer’s Hierarchy of Needs
Psychologist Abraham Maslow is best known for his theory about human motivation, aka the hierarchy of needs. He believed that basic needs must be fulfilled before an individual can progress to higher levels. For example, an individual cannot realize their...
Review excerpt from SHADE TREE BOOK REVIEWS: recommend Merkabah as a must read, especially for the para-normal, ancient history, thriller seeker, audience, and anyone who wants a novel that seems to turn the pages for you as you dive between the covers and into the thick of the story with Daphne and S.J.
Review excerpt from SHADE TREE BOOK REVIEWS: As with any great first novel in a series, it left me panting and begging for more. The second novel in the series, The Merkabah Deception utilized The Recruit as a diving platform to send me deep into the muck and mire of the ancient gods and demons ongoing battle of the spiritual world.
Review excerpt from SHADE TREE BOOK REVIEWS: The story between Daphne, the introverted doctoral candidate/college professor, and S. J., the demi-god/Nephilim heats to a boil as the “Watchers” seem to become more involved in the love affair between a human and a Watcher. This is only the sideline to the action-filled storyline as Daphne’s powers as a Merkabah continue to increase and she continues to fight the demons that are co-habiting earth with us mere earthlings.
