Who is this person telling the story? And do I trust them? Any time I begin reading a new book there's a period of adjustment when I struggle to feel comfortable with the narrator's voice, and to trust that I'm in good hands. It's almost like making a new friend. You kind of wonder if and when you want to see them again. Occasionally I find myself caught in an internal fight not to put … [Read more...]
The Impact of Three-Star Reviews: Lessons from Chocolate
Are three stars really so bad? A recent post by an author on Threads read Does anyone else find 3-star Goodreads reviews really dispiriting? You give your book your very life, your soul, for however long, and a reader goes "yeah, it was okay. Didn't hate it." I know you can't please everyone but you also can't stop those emotions. Another author replied, "I know not everyone will like … [Read more...]
Generational Driving: Passing Down Skills and Memories
Fears of parallel parking When our granddaughter came to stay with us in August, she was a little nervous about taking the driver's test for her license when she returned home. Michigan still required new drivers pass a parallel parking test. So we loaded up my Buick Acadia with makeshift cones made from pails and pool noodles and drove to an empty parking lot near us. I hoped my Arcadia’s … [Read more...]
What, Why, How: Poet Wendy Wisner
What: I suppose I would characterize my poetry as lyric poetry. Some poems are quite narrative, and others are more experimental. My poems have a strong emotional center. Sound and image are important to me. How the poem looks on the page is also a major consideration, because for me, the form of the poem – its shape, the spaces between words and stanzas – is as important as elements like sound … [Read more...]
Determination and Tenacity: The Path to Getting Published
Hard work gets results! Writing and ultimately publishing takes determination and tenacity. Time. Brainstorming. Editing. More time. Problem solving. Pulling your hair out. Walking away. Fine tuning. Asking fellow writers for help and ideas. Hiring help. In the end, you get what you put into it. So after all my sweat and hard work, I'm thrilled to announce that Regal House Publishing, an … [Read more...]