Tag: storytelling

Tips for Creative Writing * Fiction

Recently, the Professor leading the creative writing department at Pace University wrote to say that she was using one of my true crime stories (Act of Murder) as the sample text in the offered course, “How To Write Mysteries and True Crime”.  Such an honor!

I fired off enough copies to cover the students taking the class with these tips:

TIPS:

1. You can’t have too much dialogue
2. You CAN have too much descriptive
3. SHOW don’t TELL.  For example: Instead of writing:  (telling) Stella walked across the busy street, dodging cars.   (SHOWING) Holding up her hand, her badge tucked in her palm, Stella skipped to the other side, between the parked cars jammed to a standstill on the busy street . “Whad’ya waiting for, Jack?” She taunted her partner. 

4. Be certain your forensics are accurate.
 I once called an ME to ask how long traces of Vanilla Wafers and grape soda would remain in the stomach. (Angel of Murder) I didn’t trust what i found online. He was kind enough to take my call.

5. Your deceased victim is a character in your story. They should be as interesting as the other characters. At the least, they should have a life story.

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A Teachable Moment. Book Review of Just for the Summer

I try to keep my book reviews focused on the positive. I  choose not to tear down another writer.  However, my critique of Just for the Summer by Melody Carlson serves as a teachable moment for other writers, highlighting the perils of writing a story with two protagonists.  
First, the review:
3 out of 5 stars

The plot was charming and had great potential, but…
Ginny was a fine protagonist. This reader quickly felt empathy for this woman. Jacqueline…not so much! 
The chapters bounced back and forth between the two women as they had agreed to ‘trade places’, that is, ‘job swap’ for the summer.   
Sounds interesting….right?  

Unfortunately, I found the second heroine of our story very much a caricature of a shallow villainess.  Jacqueline, her boss Diana, and her boy friend, were all clichés. Overblown characters with no redeeming traits. 
And at the end I found the ‘wrapping up’ of Jacqueline’s story too ‘pat’. 
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Maybe the problem was that the book was top-heavy with Ginny’s life and struggles.  Maybe the problem was the author didn’t give enough ink and paper to Jacqueline.  Hard to say. 

But, if you plan on writing a story with two protagonists and one turns out to be an antagonist….be careful of these pitfalls when mapping out your plot. 
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A Teachable Moment. Book Review ~ Just for the Summer

I try to keep my book reviews focused on the positive. I  choose not to tear down another writer.  However, my critique of Just for the Summer by Melody Carlson serves as a teachable moment for other writers, highlighting the perils of writing a story with two protagonists.  
First, the review:
3 out of 5 stars

The plot was charming and had great potential, but…
Ginny was a fine protagonist. This reader quickly felt empathy for this woman. Jacqueline…not so much! 
The chapters bounced back and forth between the two women as they had agreed to ‘trade places’, that is, ‘job swap’ for the summer.   
Sounds interesting….right?  

Unfortunately, I found the second heroine of our story very much a caricature of a shallow villainess.  Jacqueline, her boss Diana, and her boy friend, were all clichés. Overblown characters with no redeeming traits. 
And at the end I found the ‘wrapping up’ of Jacqueline’s story too ‘pat’. 
~~~~~~~~~~~

Maybe the problem was that the book was top-heavy with Ginny’s life and struggles.  Maybe the problem was the author didn’t give enough ink and paper to Jacqueline.  Hard to say. 

But, if you plan on writing a story with two protagonists and one turns out to be an antagonist….be careful of these pitfalls when mapping out your plot. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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From Page to Stage!! Emma’s Magical Journey Performed in Kodiak, AK

Emma and the Lost Unicorn is taking to the stage—and I couldn’t be more delighted to see my story come to life.

This beloved children’s play—adapted from my illustrated book—is a magical adventure filled with friendship, mystery, and a little bit of stardust. 

The latest performance brings Emma’s journey to life with vibrant costumes, whimsical set pieces, and unforgettable characters that have enchanted readers and audiences alike. Dive into

children's plays, stage plays,stories for children
Stare, the rhetorical Owl

the world of Emma and explore the rest of the series, each story filled with colorful illustrations and heartwarming themes.

Emma and the Lost Unicorn by Trisha Sugarek will be presented on July 25 and 26 by the Kodiak Arts Council.  (Kodiak, Alaska)

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Emma, an Earthling girl, frequently visits her friends in the forest near her farm. She delights in the antics of Stare, the rhetorical owl, and Cheets, the mischievous elf. One day, she is introduced to Rainey, the Unicorn, a prince who’s been banished for centuries by the warlord, Hazard. He can never return home unless Emma solves more riddles than Hazard’s Lieutenant, Kodak. The fable concludes with a surprising twist that will delight readers of all ages. While written for children, this fairy tale is sophisticated enough to appeal to adults as well.

Queens, warlords, faeries, elves, unicorns, handmaidens, scary henchmen and one small mortal girl child in an enchanted forest. This fable offers many subtle lessons.

 

For Tickets click on link:https://www.kodiakarts.org/community-theatre

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Emma and Stare, the rhetorical owl

Did you know? Emma and the Lost Unicorn began as a stage play and evolved into a beautifully illustrated storybook. My work blends theatrical magic with literary depth, making it perfect for classrooms, libraries, and family reading time. Use this Link:
Emma and the Lost Unicorn
Stanley, the Stalwart Dragon
The Exciting Exploits of an Effervescent Elf
Bertie, the Bookworm and the Bullyboys
Emma and the Lady Aardvarks
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The Exciting Exploits….

                   

 

 

children's story books, fairy tales, bullying, literacy, new books for kids

Emma and the Lost Unicorn Premieres in Kodiak – A Magical Children’s Play by Trisha Sugarek

Emma and the Lost Unicorn by Trisha Sugarek will be presented on July 25 and 26 by the Kodiak Arts Council.  (Kodiak, Alaska)

children's plays, stage plays,stories for children
Stare, the rhetorical Owl

Emma, an Earthling girl, frequently visits her friends in the forest near her farm. She delights in the antics of Stare, the rhetorical owl, and Cheets, the mischievous elf. One day, she is introduced to Rainey, the Unicorn, a prince who’s been banished for centuries by the warlord, Hazard. He can never return home unless Emma solves more riddles than Hazard’s Lieutenant, Kodak. The fable concludes with a surprising twist that will delight readers of all ages. While written for children, this fairy tale is sophisticated enough to appeal to adults as well.

Queens, warlords, faeries, elves, unicorns, handmaidens, scary henchmen and one small mortal girl child in an enchanted forest. This fable offers many subtle lessons.

 

Dreamchasers Theatre Co. Production of Emma..

For Tickets click on

.link:https://www.kodiakarts.org/community-theatre

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Emma and Stare, the rhetorical owl

The children’s plays have been developed into story books with beautiful, colored illustrations. Use this Link:
Emma and the Lost Unicorn
Stanley, the Stalwart Dragon
The Exciting Exploits of an Effervescent Elf
Bertie, the Bookworm and the Bullyboys
Emma and the Lady Aardvarks
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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A few BOOKS BY TRISHA SUGAREK

                                                       

 

 

 

Conclusion ~ Interview with author, Christina Dudley

Q. Do you think we will see, in our lifetime, the total demise of paper
books?

CD. I doubt it. They’re expensive, but plenty of people love paper books. I do think traditional publishers might start to do smaller print runs for books that aren’t expected to be blockbusters. I myself don’t do print anymore unless I want to look at maps or find it at a used bookstore, because who has the space?

Q. What makes a writer great?

CD. No two readers will ever agree on this! When I put my own fiction-reader hat on, I’m looking for books with rounded characters and plausible situations, even if it’s set in a fantasy world. Bonus points if the story makes me laugh. Not too much navel-gazing, please, and a plot with a traditional conflict-rising action-climax-denouement. I must be too old to enjoy the stories where there’s no real conflict, or where it’s resolved with 25% left to go, and then it’s just 25% of people riding off into the sunset. Yawn.
When it comes to nonfiction, which I also love, I want to learn something and have it told to me like a story. Books like The Boys in the Boat and Into Thin Air delight me.  

Q. How have your life experiences influenced your writing?

CD. With Pride and Preston Lin, I threw in everything from my life, it felt like. I sent Lissie Cheng to my high school and had her live in my hometown. The family restaurant was one I ate at frequently throughout my life. My husband and I met in grad school at Stanford, so that played a prominent role. Heck, even my English country dance lessons and my time as a swim official for youth swimming made it in! And though the book takes place mostly in the San Francisco Bay Area, I placed a pivotal scene at the King County Aquatic Center up in my neck of the woods, as a nod to all the hours and hours I spent there when my kids were swimming.
But even my Regencies reflect my life: my love for Austen and Regency romances; how I almost studied 18th century literature in grad school because I had a fabulous professor for an Austen seminar; how my favorite stories involve lovable families (think Laura Ingalls Wilder and Betsy-Tacy and All-of-a-Kind Family); how I love English literature in general, from Renaissance poetry to the end of the 19th century, etc.

Q. What’s your downtime look like?

CD:  I walk daily, am involved at my church, belong to the same book club I’ve been in for decades, and otherwise love all things sedentary, including reading, eating, and watching baseball.

Q. Have you or do you want to write in another genre?

CD. Yes! I’d love to do more contemporary romance and am excited to do another. But I’ll always love Regency.

Q. Note to Self: (a life lesson you’ve learned.)

CD. Trying to make a living wage writing is like trying to be struck by lightning. You can’t make it happen, but you can put yourself in the best places where lightning strikes.

Did you miss  the beginning of my  Interview with the talented, Christina Dudley?
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Part 2 ~ Interview with author, Christina Dudley

Q. Do you ‘get lost’ in your writing?

CD. Oh, so rarely! Only about 10% of the time does a chapter just write itself. The rest of the time it can be a slog, an act of discipline. Is this scene doing anything? Is it developing the character or moving the plot along? If not, into the trash it must go…Though even then, certain lines or bits can be salvaged and pasted back in later.

Q. What compelled you to choose and settle on the genre you now
write in?

CD. I started in women’s fiction and general fiction, but when I wrote a contemporary adaptation of Mansfield Park and rediscovered the world of rabid Jane-ites, I decided to write a Regency romance like all the ones I’d read and loved when I was younger. Jane Austen is a like a public-domain Marvel Universe—so many of us have launched ourselves from her work.

Q. Are you working on something now or have a new release coming up? If so tell us about it.

CD. I’m working on Book Three in my current Regency series Lord Dere’s Dependents. The Bestowed Bride is the widowed sister-in-law’s story. And then after that I am contracted to write my second traditionally-published romance, an Emma-based follow-up of my first trad book Pride and Preston Lin.

Q. Do you think we will see, in our lifetime, the total demise of paper books?

CD. I doubt it. They’re expensive, but plenty of people love paper books. I do think traditional publishers might start to do smaller print runs for books which aren’t expected to be blockbusters. I myself don’t do print anymore unless I want to look at maps or find it at a used bookstore because who has the space?

Q. What compelled you to choose and settle on the genre you now
write in?

CD. I started in women’s fiction and general fiction, but when I wrote a contemporary adaptation of Mansfield Park and rediscovered the world of rabid Jane-ites, I decided to write a Regency romance like all the ones I’d read and loved when I was younger. Jane Austen is a like a public-domain Marvel Universe—so many of us have launched ourselves from her work.

Q. Are you working on something now or have a new release coming up? If so tell us about it.

CD. I’m working on Book Three in my current Regency series Lord Dere’s Dependents. The Bestowed Bride is the widowed sister-in-law’s story. And then after that I am contracted to write my second traditionally-published romance, an Emma-based follow-up of my first trad book Pride and Preston Lin.   

Q. Do you think we will see, in our lifetime, the total demise of paper books?

CD. I doubt it. They’re expensive, but plenty of people love paper books. I do think traditional publishers might start to do smaller print runs for books which aren’t expected to be blockbusters. I myself don’t do print anymore unless I want to look at maps or find it at a used bookstore because who has the space?

Q. What comes first to you? The Characters or the Situation?

CD.  They’re almost simultaneous.

Q. Do you ‘get lost’ in your writing?

CD. Oh, so rarely! Only about 10% of the time does a chapter just write itself. The rest of the time it can be a slog, an act of discipline. Is this scene doing anything? Is it developing the character or moving the plot along? If not, into the trash it must go…Though even then, certain lines or bits can be salvaged and pasted back in later.

Q. What makes a writer great?

CD. No two readers will ever agree on this! When I put my own fiction-reader hat on, I’m looking for books with rounded characters and plausible situations, even if it’s set in a fantasy world. Bonus points if the story makes me laugh. Not too much navel-gazing, please, and a plot with a traditional conflict-rising action-climax-denouement. I must be too old to enjoy the stories where there’s no real conflict, or where it’s resolved with 25% left to go, and then it’s just 25% of people riding off into the sunset. Yawn.
When it comes to nonfiction, which I also love, I want to learn something and have it told to me like a story. Books like The Boys in the Boat and Into Thin Air delight me.  

Did you miss the beginning? Interview
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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World of Murder, (A Collection) Now in AUDIO Books

My collection of true crime mysteries is drawn from the ten books in the series. Now available in audiobooks.

Click here for more information and to hear a sample of the audio.   

Included are three complete novellas. 
* Dance of Murder
* Act of Murder
* Angel of Murder 

Synopsis: In the World of Murder series, Detectives Jack O’Roarke and Stella Garcia, two murder cops, seek out killers on the streets of New York City. Their investigations take them from the sleazy world of strip joints to Manhattan’s upper Eastside. Poor and rich alike, no one is exempt from murder. O’Roarke and Garcia are stars at NYPD with their careful forensic investigative skills and just plain, solid cop work.
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Just Released in paperback and eBook

               

 

 

Book Review ~ By His Grace and Favor

 

5 out of 5 stars ~~ Book Review

Delicious….but more than that
the  story taught me something I previously didn’t know about.  Fleet Street Prison in London was a ‘debtor’s prison’ exclusively and notorious for its appalling conditions.  If a person, common folk or a member of the aristocracy, couldn’t pay their debts they could be charged by the creditor, tried and sent to ‘Fleet’ until their debts were paid. I don’t know how anyone could think that a person could accomplish this while incarcerated.
Many prisoners spent decades there and sometimes died while still in prison.   

By His Grace and Favor, written by Christina Dudley, is a delightful regency story that delves into the horrific conditions of the  prison and the neighborhood that grew up around it to service its needs. 

Our Founding Fathers were careful about importing any of the policies or laws that governed England at the time to our new, fledgling democracy. With regard to a ‘debtor’s prison’ I am assuming that’s why we eventually had bankruptcy relief laws. Our law makers saw the folly of Fleet Street Prison. 

The story telling is superb and the characters all engaging and well developed.  It’s book one in the series, Lord Dere’s Dependents and I can’t wait for the next one.  
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Review ~ Stone Song by Tricia O’Malley

One star out of 5  ~~~Book Review

I go to great lengths to NOT give an unfavorable review of my fellow writers.  I strive to uplift and support my fellow storytellers. But, Stone Song is a teachable moment. So I’m going to take advantage of it. 

I have preached (ad nauseam)  about those words that we writers resort to using (unconsciously) over and over. The two words that I use to excess are:
‘just’ and ‘that’. Don’t ask me why but we authors all have them. 

This writer used the word ‘squeal or squealed’ EVERY time her female protagonists exclaimed about something or someone. I gave up counting at 9 times within 50 pages!  The second word she used to excess was the word ‘core’ as in someone’s core. 

Now there are lovely synonyms for both of these words and it’s the responsibility of the author to use them in order for their book to be the very best that it can be.  ‘Squeal’ could be replaced with:  screech, scream, shriek, squawk, or howl. The word’ core’ could be replaced with: heart, nucleus, soul, essence, center, root, or mainstay. 

The story itself was a bit shallow and predictable. The premise was good but the follow through was weak. The characters were likeable but I didn’t care enough about them to finish the book.  
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Now Available!

                                         

Just Released in paperback and eBook