All Endings Have Beginnings
Because fiction isn’t real life, it can have a symmetry and balance that provides a familiar and comfortable structure for the reader, especially in genre fiction. All rules of writing can be broken—no doubt about that. For every “you mustn’t” there is a writer skilled enough to say, “Oh, but I must,” and be right. Read More
Which Book? What? Oh That Book . . .
You can ask any author and I’ll bet you’ll hear much the same story — by the time a new novel reaches the shelves, other work has become so mentally present that focusing on the new release feels like going backward in time.Read More
Sunday Afternoon in the Park, Bay Area Style
Today was a day for a long walk, and nearby Lake Chabot was my destination. The afternoon was so beautiful and warm that the picnic areas were overflowing with people. Read More
Asked and Answered: Song Lyrics
Question(s):
1) Quoting song lyrics will help sell the performer’s CDs, so why can’t I?
2) Will the publisher get the permission needed to quote song lyrics in my novel?
3) Should I credit the songwriter or the copyright holder when I quote song lyrics? Read More