Monday, June 29, 2009

I wanted to congratulate the winners over at the Editor Unleased/Smashword Flash Fiction contest -- except I seem to be one of them. *blushes modestly* So offering congrations sounds funny, but to all the others who placed for the anthology and for that matter everyone who entered, Kudos!

Seriously there were some good stories entered and I'm complimented to be among the top 40 finishers. I have no complaint about that because, frankly, a number of them were better than my little offering. I can't say I'm short stories and flash are my strongest area.

Anyway, here is a link to the list of winners and to Maria Schneider's blog, as well which is worth reading anyway. http://editorunleashed.com/ It also has a link to the forum where the stories are posted.

Do take a look.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Back with a book recommendation

First, I need to apologize for a lengthy lack of posts. I've been finishing a novel (now completed and hopefully about 90% edited) and I've also had a lot of chaos in my personal life. However, things are now at least somewhat back to normal--whatever normal may be for me. I sometimes suspect my normal is nowhere near everyone else's normal.

And while hopping back into blogging I want to recommend a book on writing that I came across and am very impressed with.

I don't often recommend books on writing but I recently read one by Ray Rhamey of the Flogging the Quill blog that very much impressed me.

The title is Flogging the Quill: Crafting a Novel that Sells and it is available on Amazon.

Ray divided his book into seven sections--Storytelling, Description, Dialogue, Technique, Words, Workouts, and Computer Tips--and each is full of invaluable information for the fiction writer. He does a great job of putting together insights and advice that are both effective and entertaining. It has many concrete examples so you're never in doubt about exactly what Ray is getting at.

Unlike many books on writing, I felt that this had almost as much in it for the experienced writer as for the beginner. I really do recommend it.