The author discusses the challenges of selecting the right title for a mystery manuscript, feeling stuck despite positive feedback on her current placeholder title. She ponders whether a title should be finalized before completing the manuscript and explores examples of notable long book titles and short book titles in the mystery genre, highlighting authors’ titling processes and inspirations.
Tag: inspiration
A new writing plan for a new year with quotes from author Ray Bradbury; let’s all write for joy.
The first chapter of Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is titled, “Day 1,299 of My Captivity.” It is referenced by a sentient octopus, Marcellus. This timeline motif, which continues through Van Pelt’s REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES, feels
Looking for story, story, story Looking for a story but only seeing air, Exasperation, frustration, Nothing real there. As spring begins, I find myself in a freelance work lull which means I cannot run away from
How Much Reading & Writing Have You Managed? 2022 has begun with… a bang and a whimper and a moan and a sigh. At least, that’s how it feels to me. The shift from pandemic to
Happy New Year! Here in the Pacific Northwest, 2021 has begun with… rain. That’s no surprise. Rain is the forecast from something like October to June. I must admit, it’s a touch harder to bear than
This isn’t my best foray into Canva quote designs but I love the sentiment and I hope you do, too. You made it to Friday. Maybe it wasn’t pretty. Maybe you didn’t log 1,000 words a
The great, compelling and prolific speculative fiction writer Lois McMaster Bujold penned these choice words. And, as we go back to work, school or whatever reality awaits us today, let’s hold on to this truth and
We’vearrived. Yes, it’s 2020, where everything should be perfectly clear. Our newdecade looks likely to begin with a year of bad 20/20 vision puns. We’re “outwith the old” which, in 2020, means post-holiday clearance sales
Here’s to a year without excuses. Yes, let’s begin 2019 without resolutions — or reservations! Write the words, hit the gym, take the class, say YES to your dreams. When you feel weary, walk. When you