To step onto land unfamiliar is to invoke a kind of magic. It’s a magic of expansion—of the mind, of the spirit, of the air in my lungs too long compressed by stillness. It’s a magic of discovery, of anticipation. It’s a magic of hope. As I step onto that land, I pause, feeling for […]
How to Trim Those Filter Words from Your Writing – On the RMFW Blog
“Filter words” are sneaky words and phrases that drain the energy from your sentences, dull the tension in your scenes, and slow down your pacing by “filtering” the action through the thoughts or senses of your character. See examples of what I mean in my article on the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers blog here: “Filter […]
Cowboy Storytellers Weave Magic
What’s better than an old cowboy telling stories? Two old cowboys egging each other on! In October, I was in Oklahoma City to speak at the Women Writing the West conference. One of the best parts of the WWW conferences is the field trips they include, usually to museums or art galleries that dive into […]
Gifts for Writers – 2022 – On the RMFW Blog
It’s the time for happy holidays and merry everything! Got a writer on your gift-giving list this year? Hop over to my blog post on the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer’s blog this month for a giant list of gifts any writer would love to receive, and you’ll win at gift-giving this holiday season! Click here: […]
Small, Extraordinary, Everyday Moments in Bonaire
An island of fossilized coral sits surrounded by Caribbean waters about 50 miles off the Venezuelan coast. This island is home to 1,100 wild donkeys, 15,000-20,000 pink flamingoes, and 30,000 wild goats. And only 20,000 people. What this not-so-typical Caribbean island, Bonaire, lacks in glitzy nightlife and casinos, it makes up for with some of […]
Thanksgiving on the Page: Gratitude as a Character Trait in Your Writing – On the RMFW Blog
As you’re developing characters in your stories, have you considered how those characters feel about expressing gratitude to another being? Do they say “thank you” freely, or do they view saying thanks as an obligation or a debt to be paid? Expressing thanks can take on strong meanings for your characters whether you’re writing a […]
