Lynne's Blog
As a science center director in a former life, my job was to show our audiences how science works, not simply to tell them. The Aha! moments made the experience real for the thousands of kids, adults, and young adults that visited. When they left, there was a good chance they would remember the scientific concept behind the hands-on exhibit.
Writing is much the same. Writers need that Aha! encounter to grow and nourish their ideas into a final piece of work. That’s what this blog is all about. It’s about MY “minds-on” adventure with words — one I enjoy sharing with readers. Whether it’s about the research aspect, the craft of writing itself, or the emotional roller coaster of putting myself out there in the public eye . . . my blog is me. Pure and simple.
I welcome your thoughts and hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.
Hear Ye, Hear Ye, The Court of Oyer and Terminer Now in Session
Pure Lies Premiering Soon It’s now high time that ev’ry Crime be brought to punishment: Wrath long contain’d, and oft restrain’d, at last must have a vent: Justice severe cannot forbear to plague sin any longer, But must inflict with handmost strict mischief upon the...
The Artful Use of Language
How to Make Your Book Rise Above Others I often get blog ideas as I read for enjoyment. It doesn’t matter whether I’m reading non-fiction or fiction, good writing is good writing. So what is good writing? When you can’t wait to turn the page; when you stay up half...
Writers Are Movie Directors
"Picture" the Scenes Years ago I saw a terrific IMAX film called To The Limit. In it was a scene I never forgot. A champion downhill skier was sitting on top of a mountain, skis and poles by her side. Her eyes were closed and she was moving her arms and upper body...
Let Your Voice(s) Be Heard
Characters Are Unique Individuals As a writer I understand the importance of dialogue. Not only can it liven up a scene, jazz up a narrative, but it can bring the characters to life. Dialogue (or monologue) is an opportunity to give the characters depth, passion,...
Fact Vs. Fiction
Using Artistic License to Alter History Writing historical mysteries is a juggling act. Writers must create a fictional plot with fictional characters around a historical time period with real people . . . and somehow suspend the readers’ disbelief. Many writers of...
Travel Can Enrich Your Writing
The World Awaits I recently returned from two weeks traveling in the Pacific Northwest. Starting in Canada and ending in the U.S., I find myself anxious to start scribbling ideas for a future book. The settings were amazing, from large, modern cities, to small, more...
Hurry – Turn the Page!
Ramping Up the Tension “Amanda stepped off the elevator on the lower level of the parking garage. At ten o’clock on a Saturday night, the level was empty except for her car . . . and one other she didn’t recognize. A sound of dripping water and the soft scurrying of...
Location Really Matters
I’m nearing the end of a mystery that has me completely riveted. I haven’t been able to put it down for three days now, and I know I’m going to be bummed when I finish. The title is “A Killing in the Hills” by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Julia Keller. The prose...
Conflict – The Key to Your Characters’ Relationships
A young writer friend, beginning her first foray into a novel, asked me: “What’s the difference between conflict, tension and suspense?” Since these are such crucial concepts in any fiction or non-fiction work, I thought I’d take a stab at responding in a series of...
Amazon Speaks Out
If you’ve been following the Amazon-Hachette dispute you might be interested in this. If you are an author on Amazon, you have no doubt received this, but I thought I would include it in my blog for discussion purposes. What do you think? Let’s get a conversation...
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