Tag: #Writing

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My Favorite Piece Of Writing #IWSG

  By IWSG
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
The awesome co-hosts for the October 1 posting of the IWSG are Beth Camp, Crystal Collier, and Cathrina Constantine!

October 1 question – What is the most favorite thing you have written, published or not? And why?

The one I am currently working on.

I have to fall in love with my characters in order to do the best job telling their story. I struggle to write them well until I have become comfortable with their personalities. The last short story I wrote (to be released as part of an anthology in November) took me four attempts before i found the basis of the plot. I’m currently working on the second book in the Edwards Investigations series, and falling back in love with my cast of characters.

But if we’re talking about something that’s already been published, there’s one clear winner.

The Rise of Jake Hennessey stole my heart.

Jake is a gentleman jewel thief. I don’t claim he’s a great one, but he does okay. Most of the time. I got to know him through his interactions with Harmony Duprie, the protagonist of my Harmony Duprie Mysteries.  He tried and failed to win her heart, but remained her friend. At least, until the representatives of a number of legal agencies chased him off.

But The Rise of Jake Hennessey is his chance at a happy ending. And have fun along the way. Set twenty years in the future, I got to invent some unlikely situations to challenge him. Since he’s a morally gray character, I got to explore all aspects of his personality.

Jake had lived with a bulls-eye on his back ever since the time he got caught shoplifting a pair of expensive jeans as a twelve-year-old. Because he never made it out of the store, and it was a first offense, he had gotten off with a warning, but he had also made it onto the blacklist with the local cops. He learned a lot from that experience—about how to not get caught.

The first rule was never steal from a store where he’d need to shop later. As an adult, he’d extended that rule to include the city where he lived. Which meant Oak Grove was off limits, and local officials had no interest in his activities.

Once in a blue moon, a newly hatched FBI agent stumbled across old files and got the notion Jake was the path to establishing their reputation. None of them were more than an inconvenience until their superior called off the hunt. And Harmony had never been dragged into their wild goose chases before.

The Rise of Jake Hennessey

The Rise of Jake Hennessey

I love rooting for the underdog, and that’s part of what makes this book my favorite. Jake was the throwaway character who was never meant to have his own books. In fact, I never intended for him to appear as a speaking character. But he has a way of ruining the best-laid plans.

I’m looking forward to checking out the favorite stories of other authors on this hop. There are plenty to pick from! See the list below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.
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The Glories Of Fall #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

September 22, 2025

What do you look forward to as Fall comes up?

I’ve lived where there is no fall.

I grew up in the forest-covered hills of Northwest Pennsylvania, where the trees turned a marvelous multitude of colors each fall. Where we’d go for walks, shuffling our feet, and smelling the essence of the earth as the leaves crumbled beneath our feet. But that isn’t the only type of fall I’ve experienced.

I spent a decade on the Oregon Coast. Because of the off-shore water currents and frequent fog banks, the temperatures remained moderate most of the year. ( I only saw snow reach the shoreline once in the ten years we lived there.)  Most of the trees were evergreens, with no leaves to drop. I spent more time trimming my camellia bushes than raking leaves.

Then there was Florida. No fall there either. And no leaves to rake. But grass to mow all year long.

Wyoming’s fall was short, but at least offered hillsides of glorious gold aspen trees. (Confession: this spot was just south of the Wyoming border in Colorado.)

But here I am, less than twenty miles from where I grew up.

.And here we are, with fall hastily taking over. I wasn’t ready for it this year. The first hints of color graced the oak and maple trees in the first week of September. A reminder to hurry and finish the tasks I’ve put off all summer.

At the same time, I’m falling in love again with the little plot of land I call mine. Or rather, I like to think I’ve been given the privilege of taking care of it, even if for a short time. The maple behind the house has already turned orange, and when the morning sun’s rays hit it, it’s enough to make me stop and soak in the momentary beauty.

It won’t be long now until the hillsides turn into a patchwork of color. The tourists will arrive as well, to glimpse the wonder. But unless they take the right back roads, they’ll miss the best views.

So, my answer is simple. What do I look forward to? It’s the glory of the wooded hillsides, and the display Mother Earth shares with us.

How about our other authors? What do they look forward to? Find out by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

P.S. For those of you in the Lancaster PA area, Saturday the 27th, I will be taking part in the Books Books Books event at the Wyndham Expo Center Barn. I’ll be in spot 145. Stop by and say hi!

September 22, 2025

What do you look forward to as Fall comes up?

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Great Websites for Writers #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

Sept 8, 2025

It’s been awhile since we’ve done this. Have you come across any great new websites for writers?

Or maybe share an old favorite.

I have a confession. I’ve been slacking. Despite being “mostly” retired, I have less time than ever. It’s a “me” thing, and I can think of a million reasons to justify my behavior. Distractions are everywhere, and my resistance is limited.

Perhaps I’m burnt out. Too many people expect too many things. I had dreams of sitting under the old maple in my backyard to write, but it hasn’t happened. It took me over 4 months to write a 10,000 word short story. Losing my office space didn’t help, but it isn’t entirely to blame, either. Still, it’s hard to go into a writing trance when people are constantly walking by my desk.

And most “new” writing websites I stumble across seem to do nothing but regurgitate old information. Everyone’s an expert, and no one’s an expert.

So, I have no great revelation to share.

Most of the “new” websites I’ve discovered are research related. What federal agency was in charge of nuclear plants in the mid-1980s? What did the Pittsburgh Civic Center’s skyboxes look like? And in what year did Jethro Tull play there? (oops—rabbit hole!)

How about an old favorite?

I use ProWritingAid for the desktop weekly (or more.) With a lifetime subscription that was gifted to me, It’s my go-to for checking grammar, punctuation, and other writing elements. (Gotta watch their advice on commas. the software often gets confused.)

Bring your story to life image with knight and dragon coming out of a book

But I do have something to offer. Long ago, I signed up for emails from the magazine Writer’s Digest. Last week, they offered a list of top websites for writers. The link is below. Lots of interesting looking sites. I haven’t visited all of them, naturally!

https://www.writersdigest.com/writers-digest-101-best-websites-for-writers?utm_medium=email&utm_source=WDG+-+NL+-+Newsletter&oly_enc_id=0384C3289756G7O

I’m looking forward to seeing the pages our other authors suggest. Check out their posts by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

Sept 8, 2025

It’s been awhile since we’ve done this. Have you come across any great new websites for writers?

Or maybe share an old favorite.

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Staying By My Side #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

August 18, 2025

Who stayed by your side during your hardest time in life?

If you’ve followed me, you may have noticed that I don’t talk a lot about my personal life.

And that’s on purpose. My family members are not fodder for my stories. They deserve their privacy. But the answer to this question demands that I break my rule and talk about my husband.

I can’t even say what the hardest time of my life was. Together, we’ve been through it. Together is the operative word. That we even met, let alone stayed together for over 50 years, defies logic. We’ve faced challenges you hope you never see happen—except to other people. Without him by my side, I don’t know if I could have handled everything life threw at us.

Again, I won’t go into details.

Let’s just say that someone once joked I should have been a doctor to deal with all the illnesses and conditions that the family has faced (now including the grandchildren.) But most of the time, I feel blessed with the life we have been given. (Or worked for and earned, depending upon your point of view.)

So, this is a short but well-deserved tribute to my husband. He’s stayed by me and supported me through everything. (Including incredible patience with what goes into my writing.)

No, that’s not us. We have some sweet pictures of us together, but remember the privacy thing?

How about the other authors on this hop? Who supports them? Find out by following the links below.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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August 18, 2025

Who stayed by your side during your hardest time in life?

Editing Is Hard #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

August 4, 2025

Tell us about a writing lesson you learned the hard way.

I released my first book in 2014.

Of course, I had sent it through several online editors and a critique group before I published it. But it didn’t take long for a reader to find and point out the first error. Later, I heard about another one. And another. A reviewer said my primary female character winked too much. And they were right.

Luckily, it was fixable. I found enough instances of the word near the end of paragraphs to switch them out without reformatting an entire page or chapter. But it was a lesson I needed. But it also led me to pay more attention to overused words.

But editing is more than grammar and spelling.

There’s pacing and story flow and continuity. (Does the main character start with blue eyes and end with brown ones?) Don’t forget eliminating cliched phrases. {She released a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding.) Then there’s using the same uncommon word more that once, too close together. Let’s use the word metaphorical as an example. Used once, it’s interesting. Twice, it’s a little less gripping. Used three times close together, it loses its power.

As you can see, editing is hard. There’s always more to learn. And, no matter how many eyes look at the manuscript, an error can slip through.

What lessons have our other editors learned? Find out by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

August 4, 2025

Tell us about a writing lesson you learned the hard way.

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Buying My Way Into Fame #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

July 14, 2025

Which would you rather have?

Money or Fame?

You’ve likely heard the saying, “Money can’t buy happiness.” But I’ve always thought happiness is a lot easier to achieve with money enough to cover the basics and more. Worry about having enough food? Pay for medical care? Being able to help others without having to check your budget? Not a problem with a good flow of cold, hard cash or the electronic equivalent. It won’t solve everything, but can go a long way.

What about choosing between money or fame?

Here’s my take. I’ve never chased the idea of fame. I wish for readers, but enjoy a quiet life. Like many authors, I’m a bit of an introvert, and it’s draining to interact with strangers for hours, even when the topic is writing. (Like I do when I’m out at events selling my books.)

And money can buy fame. Or, at least, a best-seller title. There are stories of organizations buying mass quantities of books (especially for pre-order) in order to inflate numbers to make it on a bestseller list. (The books are then distributed for free.) Political and religious figures have done this. Safeguards have been put in place to stop this tactic, not always successfully.

Money can also buy an author’s way into numerous opportunities to market their books. I have to limit where I sell my books because I can’t afford to spend money on airfare and hotels all across the country. Or even internationally. And some events can be really pricey.

I limit myself to one event a year where I have to stay overnight. And I’ve never sold enough books to cover the hotel room. I usually sell enough to cover the costs of the venue and supplies. With enough money, I could travel to many places to help connect with new readers.

But fame can bring in money.

In 2025, some of the gift bags distributed at the Academy Awards were worth over $200,000. The speaker fees for Nora Roberts can range between $50,000 to $100,000. Craig Johnson, the author of the Longmire series, “only” receives between $5,000 and $10,000.

So, which do I choose? Remember that I’m an introvert? I choose money. That way I have more control of my life, my time, my interactions with others.

What do the others on this hop choose? Money or Fame? Find out by following the links below.

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

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

July 14, 2025

Which would you rather have? Money or Fame?

 

 

Genres I Haven’t Tried #IWSG

  By IWSG
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
The awesome co-hosts for the July 2 posting of the IWSG are Rebecca Douglass, Natalie Aguirre, Cathrina Constantine, and Louise Barbour!
July 2 question – Is there a genre you haven’t tried writing in yet that you really want to try? If so, do you plan on trying it?
I can’t say that there’s a genre I want to write But  I always said that I can’t write science fiction, but guess what? I wrote it. At least a very watered down version. My book, The Rise Of Jake Hennesssey, was  set twenty or so years in the future. I tried to figure out what changes might have happened to the small town of Oak Grove, where the Jake Hennessey and Harmony Duprie books took place.
Three years later – did I get it right? Well, I’m glad I didn’t include any predictions on politics. I wouldn’t have anticipated the current political climate. But, it can change again before the 20 years is up. And the technological changes are still a possibility.
Will I try again? Well, since then, I’ve gone semi-historical in The Edwards Investigations mystery series, and looking into the future isn’t compatible with that premise.
Check out what some of the other authors have to say about writing in a new genre. Check out some of the links below.
And, as always, please stay safe until next time.

Remodeling #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

June 16, 2025

Hypothetical: Someone will pay to redecorate your living room. what would you like it to look like?

Thanks, but no thanks.

My living room doesn’t need much, other than a lighter color paint on the walls. (Maybe even just one wall.) It already has two matching deep brown recliners you can sink into, a matching sofa, a coffee table with a faux marble top that looks straight out of a Victorian room (and a matching side table) a curio cabinet, a full-height bookshelf, and a gas fireplace. It’s a room that wraps around you and welcomes you in when you enter through the front door. The house is an old Victorian era house (but not Victorian style—it looks more like an old farmhouse) and the room matches the house’s personality.

Now, my kitchen is a different matter, and I’d welcome a full remodel.

It’s smaller than I expected from the pictures. The first thing it needs is more square footage, and that requires an addition. It also needs new cabinets, sticking with a natural wood (I’m guessing these are over fifty years old) and new flooring. The laminate was installed badly, and it can’t stand up to the amount of foot traffic it gets. (The flooring is on my to-do list.) A large family were the previous owners, and I can’t imagine cooking for a family that size in the current space.

I want the room to be big enough to have space for a small kitchen table. I’d prefer to not sit at the dining room table to eat every meal. Seriously, I don’t think anyone who does any real cooking would get along with the room.

The color of the walls needs changed, too. They are currently a millennial gray-blue and I’d prefer something bright and airy. A pale blue could work. A shade of yellow might look okay, but I’d need to ponder my choices. The appliances should be replaced, but I doubt I’d be able to find any with the personality and reliability of what is there already.

I have no clue how much this would cost. (The addition alone would likely be an arm and a leg.) But unless I get rich off my next release, it won’t happen.

One thing I should note: I have no experience as an interior designer. I’d be leaning on others for help.

What about the other authors? What are they remodeling? Find out by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 June 16, 2025

Hypothetical: Someone will pay to redecorate your living room. what would you like it to look like?

My Favorite Summer Plans #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

June 2, 2025

What are your favorite summer plans?

In childhood, summer meant long walks on the backroads of Pennsylvania,

And thru the fields and forests. Bicycling. Hours of reading and doing crafts. Fishing in the “crick” down past the neighbor’s pasture.

For many of my adult years, it meant trips to the mountains. The Big Horns. The Beartooths. The Never Summer Range. Or maybe walks on the Oregon Coast beaches with my children, where the hills tumbled down to the ocean. There were also the years when the West Coast got switched to the East Coast, and the walks were on the long, sandy beaches of Florida and the Atlantic.

Since I retired, my summer plans have changed. I spend my time in my yard, tending to whatever flowers and other plants I’ve managed to keep away from the local white-tailed deer. I no longer have to go to the mountains, since I am living among the rolling hills of the northern Appalachians. I’m there. Or maybe I will repaint my front steps. (Yes, they are purple.) Mornings, I can birdwatch from my little deck. Of course, I have a list of normal chores to take care of.

Then there are the weekends.

And a whole range of festivals and similar events. (You can check the front page of this website to see the current list. https://www.pjmaclayne.com/  ) This year, I’m trying something new. Our borough has a community yard sale the first weekend of June that brings in lots of people, and I’m going to attempt to sell my books this year. It’s free, so worth the try. I’m also adding a few new events to my repertoire. (Waterford and Lancaster.)

So, those are my plans. And somewhere in there I have a short story I need to finish. (I’ve restarted it three times now. Each version has been an improvement.)

How about the others who are  posting on this hop? What are their plans? Find out by following the  links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

June 2, 2025

What are your favorite summer plans?

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