dannedmind

WRITING TIPS: SECLUDE YOURSELF

I can’t imagine writing in a coffee shop. But we see that in movies and TV shows all the time. it’s different for different people, but I believe I write best alone.

Purchasing a laptop really helped, although having an office and a desktop where you can close a door is great too. But for me, the laptop allowed me to write away from an internet connection in my car where no one would bother me.

Go somewhere you can tune out your surroundings. Find a time when distractions aren’t likely. Put the smart phone away and any other temptations.

If you make writing time about writing, you’ll be able to write, and the further away you can get from all the things you need to do around the house, the easier it’ll be not to procrastinate.

FREE SHORT STORY: ENGIRIL

Dear Potential Reader,

The following short story is one about the power of names, and how they can give shape to the fears we would otherwise be unable to describe. There’s something very troubling once a fear takes form, even if it is just a name, it becomes singular and motivated in . . . ENGIRIL!

CLICK HERE TO READ

ENGIRIL was written all the way back in 2012. That year I’d purchased my first laptop—been a desktop guy for the entire of the existence of personal computers until then. It allowed me to write in my car on my lunch break and was part of my first real writing challenge. I had set a goal to write a short story every week. In the end, my goal of 52 stories reached 84! Of which, ENGIRIL was story #40 from week 21! You could say I got on a roll around May and never looked back. Which is often the case when writing every day. There’s a momentum gained, like training for a marathon, my writing muscles increased.

Prior to 2012, I would write when the whim struck me. I wouldn’t force, and I often wouldn’t finish. But in 2012 I was determined.

Not every story was good. Somewhere, I reflected upon which of the 84 stories were worth sharing with the world. And perhaps, ENGIRIL is not up to the same standards I would hold myself up to today.

This wouldn’t be my last writing challenge. They are great to set, but like most goals on January 1^st, so many times more often are they abandoned.

Hope you enjoy.

All the best,

DAN JIRE

WRITING TIPS: CONVINCING ARGUMENT

I’ve heard a lot of metaphors for storytelling, but the one thing we’ve all experienced prior to fiction writing is Essay writing.

Think of your story as an essay. Remember you’ll need details and facts to convince your reader of not just what is unfolding but where and when it unfolds.

If you present a convincing argument, you’ll put your reader exactly where you want them to be.

Remember the best tips for essay writing?

Start with a great hook.

Stay on topic.

Provide examples.

Prove your argument.

FREE SHORT STORY: THE PENNY

Dear Potential Reader,

Sometimes, the only way to get to notice someone is to see what they do when no one is looking. When a young woman helps the Hatchback Woman, she finds her good deed is worth more than just value of the coin she received in THE PENNY.

CLICK HERE TO READ

Having worked in retail, I can’t recall any cashier every escaping a register that was perfect every time. There’s just something odd or magical about how it can get off. Sure, it probably is user error. A ten ends up in the stack of ones and gets handed out as change to one of the many people too busy to check what’s handed back to them–Gosh, I do recall preferring people who paid by card.

And so, it comes to an end. I hope you all have enjoyed the Lady’s tales for the last 12 months. The 12 stories represent less than a third of what is written, and my hope has always been to reach 100 stories, so there are plenty more to come. Thank you for reading.

Hope you enjoy.

All the best,

DAN JIRE

WRITING TIPS: ON ADVERBS

When I first sat down in hopes of being a published author, I read the rule to eliminate and avoid all adverbs.

I intensely followed this rule for many years. Beginning in the editing stage of deleting all those ‘-ly’ words to avoiding them completely in the first draft.

(You saw what I did there, right?)

Adverbs are fine.

Like all words, they have a place and a time.

Sometimes a sentence is clear without one. Other times it is clearly needed.

It all comes down to preference. I would still say that it is good advice to use adverbs sparingly. But I believe the key to good writing is creating a good cadence. When a reader reads the sentences, does a particular word reduce the flow (intentionally or not) or maintain it?

That said, it is always good practice to place restrictions on word choice, so that we broaden the kinds of phrases we turn. And it is always good practice to analyze our repetitions.