Tag Archives: write

The Dark Side of Living La Vita Local

I love going to live metal shows, especially when there is a mix of local and national acts. I love it best when the venue is intimate and I could, if I was so inclined, reach out and touch whoever is onstage or bump into one of the musicians trying to get to the bar.Continue reading “The Dark Side of Living La Vita Local”

My Sweet Shadow, To You I Look No More

I had talked about metal music and recalling unpleasant memories in an earlier post. Wouldn’t you know it, I had the most vivid, controlled recall of my life a few days ago. I was alone, almost as if the part of my mind that controlled access to those memories had read the post, and IContinue reading “My Sweet Shadow, To You I Look No More”

Metal Grrrl: I Am A Subject Not An Object

I move in male-dominated circles. I’m a metal junkie and yes, I’m learning the ropes, but I’m not some vapid groupie who is only on the scene for the 5:1 male-female ratio that stacks the odds in my favor. I’m going to shows, buying albums, buying merchandise, and writing about metal. Of all the genresContinue reading “Metal Grrrl: I Am A Subject Not An Object”

Current Work(s) In Progress

Having a Sanguine writer’s personality, I’ve discovered that I must have multiple writing projects going on at the same time or I will despair of ever completing anything. Though I am a dramatic and accomplished story teller, I am easily bored with the nuts and bolts of writing and I can be derailed if IContinue reading “Current Work(s) In Progress”

Rage With the Beast

I’ve been asking myself why metal music makes me shiver. Particular songs just make my skin prickle and bring such intense, all-over pleasure that it has caused me to question some fundamental understandings about myself. I asked my son about this and he told me, “You’re getting in touch with your rage.” He should know.Continue reading “Rage With the Beast”

Genre of Choice: Paranormal Fantasy & Horror

Even as a small child, I was fascinated by the forbidden. I was the geek in the corner of the room with her nose in a tome of The Tales of the Brothers Grimm. Even with the sanitized endings, I knew the stories told of gruesome things. The story of Bluebeard was my favorite. MyContinue reading “Genre of Choice: Paranormal Fantasy & Horror”

Advice to Newbies

As an author, copy and content editor, former publisher, and a former board member of the Baltimore Writers’ Alliance, I have given this advice to a number of aspiring AND established writers. Suggestion One: Keep writing, save everything, even if you think it’s crap. Get the word count under your belt because it is theContinue reading “Advice to Newbies”

Character Sketch: Laney Brennan

I build characters in my head. I talk to them and sometimes I answer out loud. My kids think I’m crazy. They’re right but not for the reasons they think. I hate doing character sketches where I sit down and write everything out. I feel overwhelmed as I try to figure out if it’s meContinue reading “Character Sketch: Laney Brennan”

Idiomatic Genesis OR Shaving Bears

I’ve been looking into idioms because often times they are wrapped up in absurd imagery. “I’ll fix your little red wagon” is an example. Here we have the image of the innoccuous childhood red wagon (think Flyer) representing the messy and diabolical urge to even the score. “A hair of the dog” means to doContinue reading “Idiomatic Genesis OR Shaving Bears”

Writing Tools: Crossing Genres

There are two obstacles that every writer faces in one form or another: Writer’s Block and Craft Fail. These two elements are inextricably linked because writer’s block is caused by the frustrated ability to articulate the writer’s imagination through craft. If writer’s block were created by a lack of imagination, it would not be calledContinue reading “Writing Tools: Crossing Genres”