We talked recently about the importance of ridding a story of whatever isn’t absolutely necessary and/or doesn’t advance the story. This “excess” can be anything from losing a line of description to cutting out a character. Or a scene. In the case of novels, entire chapters. But once we’ve reduced a story to its bare … Continue reading Open the Doors. Walk Right In!
Story Surgery
I re-read a short story recently that I had put away because I didn’t know what to do with it. I’d submitted it a few times with no luck—a sign the story isn’t bad, but it’s not as good as it could be. I had never been satisfied with the ending, so I started there. I … Continue reading Story Surgery
Seasonal
“I think we are bound to, and by, nature. We may want to deny this connection and try to believe we control the external world, but every time there's a snowstorm or drought, we know our fate is tied to the world around us.” —Alice Hoffman I went out this morning to photograph the beauties you … Continue reading Seasonal
Gerry Wilson 