Story Weekend: Déjà vu

This week’s topic is déjà vu, a feeling that you have seen or heard something before experiencing it for the first time. Share your story about a time that you experienced déjà vu. If you’re new to Story Weekend, here’s how it works: I pick a theme and you share something from your life that relates to…

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Story Weekend: Remodeling Gone Wrong (and a Giveaway!)

Story Weekend is back, and to celebrate, let’s have a giveaway! I’ve been madly working on next year’s book which has sapped all my time, but I’ve missed hearing your stories, so here goes. This week’s topic is Remodeling Gone Wrong. I’d love to hear your Remodeling Gone Wrong story. I’ll use a random number generator to pick…

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Story Weekend: Outside Your Window

Isn’t the view from this monastery window beautiful? Describe what you see when you look outside your window. If you’re new to Story Weekend, here’s how it works: I pick a theme and you share something from your life that relates to that theme, however you interpret it. Thanks to all of you who’ve contributed. As…

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Do You Read the Last Page First?

A friend called the other day. I hadn’t spoken to him in a couple of months and I knew he and his family were going through some difficult times. He wanted to catch me up, telling me “so much has happened since I talked to you last.” (I really did receive this call, but I’m…

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I Need Your Help Again!

As I mentioned a while back, I plan to have the covers of my backlist e-books redesigned. I’d love it if you could help me with some decisions along the way. Here’s the first choice I have to make for my book Reflection.  Which cover appeals to you the most? Left or Right? (Try to…

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What's Wrong with this Picture?

I was going through my pictures from last week’s retreat with my fellow writers when I came across this one. I didn’t notice it when I snapped the pic, but my bud Alexandra Sokoloff, ordinarily so beautiful, looks a little . . . octopus-like, doesn’t she? It took me a minute to realize she was…

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Turning an Idea into a Story

One thing a writer learns early is the importance of “showing” instead of “telling”. It’s a real problem for many new writers, but seasoned writers struggle with it, too. That’s what I’m grappling with right now as I flesh out my work-in-progress. I’ve written the long synopsis that describes the novel, but how do I…

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Story Weekend: Ghosts

I’ve spent the last week with five of my writer friends at the beautiful Weymouth Mansion, where serious North Carolina writers are allowed to stay and work for up to two weeks each year. We try to come each spring and fall and we get so much done on our works-in-progress. The mansion has a…

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Story Weekend: Earrings

Wow, the last Story Weekend really got to me. Your stories–and your openness–touched me deeply. I think many of us have a need to share those “what if” moments in our lives. I think we need a lighter topic this week, though, so here it is: earrings. I look forward to reading what you do…

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