Linda K Sienkiewicz

Writing life, line by line

Take 30 Minutes to Fix Your Novel

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After reading “Outline your Novel in Thirty Minutes” by Alicia Rasley in the Article of the Month blog, I realized my current outline was basically useless. No wonder my writing had been stalled! Applying this exercise to my work-in-progress created a new outline that is basic, but also concrete,  coherent, specific, and ten times better. Nine important questions cover key points that most … [Read more...]

Where to Start Your Novel

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The beginning as a place mark: We sit in front of the keyboard, poised, with an idea for a book spinning in our head, and find ourselves afraid to start. After all, we are aware we have one paragraph, or three at best, to capture the attention of the reader. My friend and mentor, Elizabeth Searle, gave me a great tip to get past this initial fear: Think of your current opening as nothing more than … [Read more...]

Is it awe or aw?

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The world needs an illustrated grammar lesson concerning aw and awe.  Aw is a noise Aw is the word for a noise you make when you see something that's freaking adorable, like a baby hedgehog or Betty White. Some people write "aww." Because it's a sound, if the photo is especially freaking adorable, you can get away with writing "awwwwwww," although doing so is comparable to using an excessive … [Read more...]

Penny Candy Memories

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The recently installed penny candy counter in Lytle Pharmacy brings back memories of the candy stores of my girlhood. Merkel's hobby shop was across the street from my middle school in Independence, Ohio. It was the place where, on a dare, I attempted to pocket a Hershey's bar. I lost my nerve. I liked Merkel's and the friendly owner who always welcomed the children who flocked inside after … [Read more...]

Girls and Christmas Dolls

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Chatty Cathy dolls were a wildly popular Christmas gift in the sixties that bring fond memories to many, along with some not-so-fond memories. A Facebook post I made about Cathy elicited some of the most interesting stories about dolls and gifts: Not the doll she'd hoped for Bunny said she pulled the cord out of her Chatty on Christmas Night; the ring was attached to a string that was … [Read more...]