Author: P.J. MacLayne

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It’s All In A Name #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

 

March 2, 2026

There is an unwritten rule in fiction about not using characters’ names that begin with the same letter.

Do you have rules for naming yours?

When I started writing, I didn’t realize the power of names. My characters were named haphazardly, with whatever popped into my mind. Boring, white American names, because that’s what I knew. But the more I wrote, the deeper my understanding of what a simple name can do.

Then I transitioned to worrying about using “real” names. I’d spend hours scouring the internet, trying to discover if a name I had in mind belonged to a person I might meet on the street. If I was attached to it, I might change a few letters to avoid the duplication.

It wasn’t enough. I felt like I was missing something.

My research switched. I started playing with names based on various sources. Native American names. The Bible. The US census. That worked for a couple of books. (The Free Wolves series is a prime example.) For a while, I had access to the names of a medium-sized company, and I’d often come across unique names. Those made it into a notebook for later use.

By the time I reached The Ranger’s Dog tags from the Harmony Duprie books, I made another switch in my naming convention. The book had characters from a variety of backgrounds, and I tried to create names that would fit into their histories. As a bonus, the names worked to lead me to discover traits of their personality. (Always just the first name or the last, never both.)

As they will, my characters played games with me. For the Edwards Investigations, I used characters based on an over-decade old manuscript. There was no changing the names. Annie and Mike.

Now, I use a combination of all the above. I’ve also learned when it’s okay to break the rules. In the Edwards Investigations stories,  I have both an Annie and an Andreas. Annie because that was her original name from back in the day. Andreas because it pays homage to a founder of an early computer club, the perfect name for the character.

So what’s in a name?

A name can be an entire story in itself. Do our other authors have rules for naming their characters? Check it out by following the links below.

And, as always, please stay safe until the next time.

Goal update: I reached 40,500. But I wrote more and deleted 500 because I wasn’t happy with them.

March 2, 2026

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There is an unwritten rule in fiction about not using characters’ names that begin with the same letter.

Do you have rules for naming yours?

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Writing After Covid #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

Feb 23, 2026

Looking back at the Covid years, did that time impact your current writing?

It’s only been a few years, but it feels like ancient history.

Like many writers, I am an introvert. (Well, mostly, depending on the circumstances.) The year and a half of working from home deepened my appreciation of that personality trait. In contrast, many of the extroverts from our office returned to work much sooner. It came as a shock to my system the first time we went out to a restaurant to eat after the quarantine was lifted.

How did that affect my writing?

I want to say it increased my speed, but that’s not true. Instead, I became more deliberate in my choice of words, which slowed me down. Editing became a fixation. I’m more concerned with writing the best words I can rather than as many as possible.

But I don’t know how much of that is because of Covid or all the changes in my life after the restrictions were lifted. Retiring, moving halfway across the country, my mother dying. Everything happened way to close together. The older I get, the more of a perfectionist I become when it comes to my writing.

Is the change in my writing style good or bad? It depends on what my current goal is. Right now, it’s bad. I’m trying to get the first draft of this book finished. Last week was a good week; this week not so much. (Too few words, and I’m not happy with the pace of the story. But I keep plugging away.) I’m debating whether I need the last 500 words at all. I thought I’d get it done by the end of this month, but don’t see it happening. Not if I keep getting rid of words!

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

How is everyone else doing?

Did Covid effect your writing? I’m looking forward to your answers. As regular readers know, you can join me by following the links below

As always, please stay safe until next time.

Goal update: I only made it to 39,000 words. I have several good excuses, but I haven’t forgiven myself yet.

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Staying Motivated #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

Feb 16, 2026

From one of Kelly’s readers: What keeps you motivated on tough writing days?

This question is surprisingly hard for me. What keeps me motivated at all? I haven’t made a name for myself, and am barely breaking even monetarily. Some days, I feel like I’m writing into a void. But then I run into one of my local fans, and their kind words cheer me up. Or maybe it’s something that a fellow author says online.

Some days, it would be easy to give up. But what really keeps me motivated are my characters. They want their stories to be told and get upset when I ignore them. (They also argue with me over the plot of the story. )

And is there a moment in your journey so far that completely surprised you?

I am continually surprised by lessons and people along the way. The way other vendors at cons and festivals supported me as I tried to sell books. How poorly I do at some big events and how well I do at some small ones. What has surprised me the most? How much fun it is to sell a copy of a book out of the back of my Jeep at the local Dollar General. The joy I get when I complete a book, when I hold a physical copy of a new story, when I meet a new fan. 

That takes me back to the first question. What motivates me on tough days? The search for that joy, and how I’m addicted to feeling it again.

What motivates the other authors on this blog hop? You know the drill. Follow the links below to find out.

As always, please stay safe until the next time.

Goal update: I’m at 38,000 words. Major progress! And the plot finally reached a turning point I’ve been striving for.

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What’s For Supper? #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

Feb. 9, 2026

Did you try any new foods last year?

How did that go?

During the summer, I spend a lot of weekends at various community events. You’d think that would provide the opportunity to try a variety of new foods. But I don’t eat much during festival days because I’m afraid to dig into some messy dish just as a potential customer comes to my booth. Besides, I don’t want to have grease on my hands when I’m handling my books.

But there’s the rest of the year. And limited options in my local area as far as restaurants. In fact, this year we planned to try a new one for our anniversary. Walked in, and they had a sign that said “cash only” and were serving a limited menu. We ended up going elsewhere.

Now, I’ve tried new dishes in favorite restaurants.

But I don’t consider that as new food as they were still “American-style” dishes.

Here’s a confession: I’m bored with cooking and eating. The variety of dietary needs in the household makes meal planning difficult. We’ve fallen into a pattern of repeating the same dishes over and over. At times, I’d rather just munch on a variety of cheese, meats, and crackers than eat a full meal.

I hope your diet has been more adventurous than mine. Feel free to share the new dishes you’ve tried in the comments. And I’m hoping the other authors on this hop have more to share than I do. Find out by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe. (and warm if you’re in a freezing area!)

Goal update – I’m at 34,800 words. Not as far as I wanted to be, but the characters are switching the plot on me.

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Stories That Will Never Be Told #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

Feb 2, 2026

We’ve talked about stories we’ve revised after many years. Have you ever given up totally on a story idea because you didn’t feel you could handle it?

Either technically or emotionally?

I “write” throwaway stories all the time. Or used to. Let me tell you about it.

One of the ways I used was to tell myself bedtime stories as I lay in bed. A way to settle my mind and keep my mind cleared of worries while I fell to sleep. I wouldn’t call them silly, but they were never meant to be anything serious. A little romance here, a touch of fantasy there, only short segments of stories that would never go anywhere.

Now, I might repeat the same story night after night, making only slight changes, anything to lull my brain into quietness. Fairy tales. A princess finding her true love. A sorceress spending her last days as a hermit in the mountains. Interestingly enough, but although I can write from a male point of view, those little stories never were.

Note: This AI generated

 

But I haven’t “written” one of those stories for quite a while. No particular reason. Don’t be jealous, but these days, I can fall asleep in no time flat. Like within two minutes. There’s barely time to form a coherent thought and rearrange my pillow before everything “fades to black.”

Back to the original topic:

Is there a story idea I’ve given up on?

If you follow me, you know I can’t write a romance. I’ve tried. But I’ve had good ideas for stories. I even tried to write a couple of those. The last one I even finished before I decided it wasn’t any good. There were a few great elements, but it needed more. The concept remains viable, but I don’t know that I’ll ever attempt revising it. (Although who knows – maybe I’ll pull another Annie McGuire and write an entirely new series based on the incident that inspired the original story. Or maybe it can become a Edwards Investigations mystery. Hmm))

There were other stories that sparked in my brain and I toyed with, but never found paper. Not even as a note in my archives. Some of those could have been genres I’m not comfortable with. (I’d use Sci-Fi as an example, but then I write The Rise Of Jack Hennessey which was written 20 years in the future.) Better to think they were the right ideas at the wrong time.)

Let’s find out what the other authors on this blog have to say by following the links below.

And, as always, until next time, please stay safe.

Goal update: I’m at 33,300 words. I wanted to reach 34,000, but didn’t get there. I’ve updated the name to The Donovan File.

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Writing Tools I Want #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

Jan 26, 2026

What is a tool that you would like to get to help you do your writing?

(Gadget/software, etc. – even a knickknack for focus)

I’m in pretty good shape as far as basic writing goes, with a decent computer, a program to write in, a website, and a great internet connection. I’ve got access to a program to help me with spell checking and editing’ and a talented and dependable cover artist. What am I missing?

Now that I’m retired, I’ve considered formatting my own stories for publication.

I have more time, and my original formatter has given up the business. I’m learned a lot, and am getting pickier about how my written version looks. (Why the heck is it different between KFP and Ingram when formatting a PDF?) Plus, the cost is harder for me to justify. As print prices go up, it takes more to recoup the cost.

I’m aware of several, and the most popular one, Vellum, is only good for Macs, which I don’t have. But that’s my question for all of you who format your own work. What program do you use, or which one do you recommend? Please share in the comments.

So, I don’t have an answer. Help me figure it out.

Perhaps one of the other authors on this hop will guide me in their post. You can find them by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe. If you’re in the path of the current storm, Fern, I hope you are staying warm.

Goal update: I only added 1300 words this week, However, I received several helpful critiques on Chapter 1, and returned critiques. So, even though my word could was low, I got a lot done.

Jan 26, 2026

What is a tool that you would like to get to help you do your writing? (Gadget/software, etc. – even a knickknack for focus)

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Writing From Revisions #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

Jan 19, 2026

Have you ever taken something that you worked on very early in your writing journey and made it into a complete work later? Or do you plan to?

I didn’t come up with this prompt, but I feel as if it was written for me. (Thanks, K. Williams!)

If you follow me, you know The Rimer File, the first book in the Edwards Investigations, is a reworking of a book I wrote over a decade ago. (and never published.) That was back when I was trying to write romances. It was a good story, but not good enough, and I knew it. The language was stiff; the plot needed work, and most of the characters were not well-developed. The time frame was vague and dated without being historical.

I made several stabs at fixing it over the years. After each attempt, I put it aside, not satisfied. Finally, after I finished writing the Harmony Duprie series, I considered tackling it again. But I sat on it, letting it brew in my brain.

Then I realized enough real-time had passed that I could place the story in a semi-historical time frame. Time that I’d actually lived through, giving me inside information. Once that was settled, I knew I couldn’t place the original story in that period.

So now, I consider the original story as inspiration, and the new book is a tribute, not a revision, to that story.

The plot is different, and romance is a secondary part of the story, rather than a primary focus. The book is darker than anything I’ve written, but it’s true to the times.

The names of my two main characters remain the same, and a few other details carried over, but most of the story is new. Instead of being totally from my imagination, I researched to include historical places and events.

The 80s. Pittsburgh, PA. A man’s world. All Annie McGregor wanted was to nail a cheating husband and prove herself worthy of being more than a glorified bookkeeper. What she found when she opened the back door of the bar-of-the-night was so much more than she bargained for. A mutilated body that bore an eerie resemblance to her ex, and a stint in handcuffs.

I have one other story from my learning stage, back before I became published, that I still think about. Yes, it is a romance, so it would be a challenge. but I’m not ready to tackle it because I have other stories I want to finish first.

How about our other authors? Do any of their old works have a future? Find out by checking out their posts with the links below.

And, as always, please stay safe until the next time.

Goal update. I broke 30,000 words and have changed the title again. This one fits and I’m happier with it. (but I’m not sure about the last 500 words. I have to think about it.)

Jan 19, 2026

Have you ever taken something that you worked on very early in your writing journey and made it into a complete work later? Or do you plan to?

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The Biggest Don’ts In Writing #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

January 12, 2025

What is the biggest “don’t” in writing?

What should a writer never do?

There’s a simple answer to this question – don’t give up. If you enjoy writing, keep at it. Even if you are writing only for an audience of one – you – stick with it.

Now that’s out of the way –

Don’t skip the hard stuff. Grammar. Spelling and punctuation. Make sure you are using the right words in a context your reader will understand. And that the words are put together in a rational order. There are people who can break the rules and be successful. William Carlos Williams. Grandma Moses. Lady Gaga. They put a lot of work into their unconventional styles. We may dream about being successful no matter how we write, but the chances of that happening are near zero. Shoot, it’s hard to be recognized even if you follow all the rules.

Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

Now, if you are writing for a private journal, you can ease up on those rules. But if you want to pass your memories on to other generations, don’t. The language will have changed enough over the years to potentially make reading difficult. (There are sites where people attempt to interpret recipes, letters and historical documents written by long-dead relatives. Fascinating to give it a try yourself.)

Anything else?

There are lots of other rules. Don’t be harsh to other writers. Don’t plagiarize. And another one, more important than the others – be kind.

What advice do the other authors on this hop offer? Find out by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe

Goal update: I’m just over 27,000 words. I’ve also changed the tentative name of the book, but I’m still not entirely sold on it.

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January 12, 2025

What is the biggest “don’t” in writing? (What should a writer never do?)

Writing Plans for 2026 #IWSG

  By IWSG

The first Wednesday of every month is Officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day.  
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

The awesome co-hosts for the

January 7 posting of the IWSG are Shannon Lawrence, Olga Godim, Jean Davis, and Jacqui Murray!

January 7 question – Is there anything in your writing plans for 2026 that you are going to do that you couldn’t get done in 2025?

Happy New Year!

I almost didn’t answer this question, because those of you who follow me may remember I answered this question a few weeks ago.

I’ve been working on the second book in the Edwards Investigations since I finished the first, over a year ago, but have made only slow progress. Well, except for the break I took to write Amos Headley, the short story I contributed to an anthology, Defending the Moonlight. That took longer than planned.

But I am determined to get this new book done before the Waterford Heritage Festival. Getting the first draft complete is doable, but I’m worried about the editing and formatting. I know how long that process can take.

I’m currently sitting at over 25,000 words. That’s half the book, and I’m adding 1500 to 2000 words or more a week. That’s decent progress. I did some editing on Chapter One, and although the plot is good, there’s a lot of tightening to do.

Writing is limited during the summer season because of the many community events I attend. I have several ideas for writing projects, but we’ll see which one moves me when I get to October. I’ve wanted to write another Wolves book for several years.

So, that’s as much as I’ve planned for 2026. Sounds easy, but life often tosses unexpected challenges at me. 

How about the other authors in this group? Check out some of the many writers on the list below.

As always, please stay safe until the next time.

Columbines and Irises #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

January 5, 2025

Now that it’s the new year, tell us a favorite holiday memory. (Any holiday!)

There’s over a foot of snow on the ground, and the winter holidays are over.

Every morning for the past week or more, I’ve had to clean off my Jeep before going anywhere. So let’s talk about a special Fourth of July from over a decade ago. (Side note- why does a decade sound like a longer time than 10 years?) Anyway, that year the Fourth of July fell on a Friday, and we decided to make the drive up to the mountains, one of our favorite things to do.

There were several routes we’d take from Cheyenne, WY, most of them going through Walden, CO, then to Fort Collins, and returning to Cheyenne. (Or the other way around.) I made a game of it – how many routes could I find to get to the same places? I jokingly called them my smuggler’s routes. Several of them weren’t available in the winter, when snow covered the mountain passes.

Back to the memory.

That year, we took off early in the day. The round trip took about 4 hours of straight driving. We never drove it straight. There were many possible stops along the way. Perhaps Jelm. Maybe the green house along Route 230, owned by the state of Colorado. Or Cowdrey Reservoir, where we first spotted the flock of yellow-headed blackbirds. Or one of the many small pull-offs along the way.

One of them was where I spotted the first wild columbine I’d ever seen. I’d heard of them, of course, but it was like spotting a legend. Then it became a quest, looking for more along the road. Wildflowers of many shapes, sizes, and colors bloomed everywhere we looked. I don’t know the names of most of them, but the pictures I took that day are backed up in three places.

That same trip, I spotted a field of irises on a side road out of Walden. Not just a few scattered plants here and there, but a wetlands area filled with them. (To consider how unique that was, Walden is in a high desert area – elevation over 8000 ft.)

I don’t remember how long the trip took that day – probably closer to ten hours if you consider the stops for meals and exploring. It wasn’t long enough, but we ran out of daylight.

Feel free to share your favorite memories in the conducts. Other authors will be sharing theirs on their blogs, found in the links below.

As always, please stay safe until the next time.

Goal accountability. (From last week’s blog.) I broke 25000 words and did some basic editing on my WIP. I feel good about it.)

January 5, 2025

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