Today’s quote: “Everyone is a moon and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody.” Mark Twain Mark Twain has touched on the very essence of what it is to be human. Yes, we do all have a ‘dark side’ – that part of our nature that rarely, if ever, sees the light [...]

Quite often I get readers of this blog leaving questions in the comments section. That is great and I appreciate the feedback and try to help people with their writing problems. Occasionally I also get readers leaving ideas from which I can benefit too. This is also great. Louise was one such reader today. Here [...]

It takes character To write a short story or novel it takes character. The character of the writer, that is. If the writer has the characteristics of discipline, persistence, patience and a good idea, the story will happen. But the story also has to have characters. Novels have plenty of them; short stories can get [...]

I am writing a novel. I need to clarify that statement: I have been thinking about writing a novel. The time for thinking is over. I urgently need to start some serious planning and writing. The pressure is really on, because I have to present the first chapter – or a part of a chapter [...]

“Fiction writing is great. You can make up almost anything.” Ivana Trump, upon finishing her first novel. Say that again, please? Yes, well … I think that’s what fiction is, something made up in the writer’s imagination. That is what I love about writing fiction; you can make up interesting characters, imagine beautiful (or dangerous [...]