It is rare that a story comes to me because of a setting, but this story, which is set in my favourite bookstore, started while I was looking at the photos in the bistro. To be completely honest, I was on a date with a man you could probably spot by the description of him in … Continue reading Stories Inspired by Setting: Little Nuthatch
"A Tree Full of Crows" is a story that made my mother blush--but she also chuckled as I read it to her. Have you ever had a bit too much wine with a bunch of women? If not, this will give you a taste of what happens at a 40+, ladies-only BBQ. 😉 "A Tree Full … Continue reading Short Story: A Tree Full of Crows
A story's gotta start somewhere, right? About three years ago I saw a woman with a semicolon tattoo, and I thought, "Wow! Someone who loves punctuation as much as I do!" But the semicolon nagged me--there had to be more to the story, and I was right. Semicolons are used by writers who could end … Continue reading Short Stories that Start with Research: Understanding the Semicolon
Experiments, Seinfeld and Literature are three of my big favourites in life. Experiments Ask my mother—even as a young girl I loved to experiment. When my aunt and my mom went dancing, my cousin Mickey and I would take all of my mother’s baking supplies and half of what was in the fridge and play … Continue reading On Experiments, Seinfeld and Literature
I thought I would share the first short story I had published exactly a year ago. I still remember how excited I was to get an email saying that my work had been accepted. At that point, I'd had a few poems published, but never any prose. I was so excited! 2016 was a windfall … Continue reading Short Story–The Waiting
Sometimes my short stories come one snippet at a time. I’ll suddenly have a character or a setting in my head, but the story is not clear. Usually, I open a new file and type out what’s in my head. I toss the ideas into a bulk folder called “Unfinished.” Once in a while, another … Continue reading Short Stories One Snippet at a Time
Once in a while, the first draft of a short story works. These are the stories you start and finish in one sitting. They usually need a second and maybe a third draft before they are ready to submit. Please understand that this rarely happens. When short stories are quickly written in one go, I … Continue reading Stories that Come Out Great in the First Draft