Category Archives: Rhobin’s round robin
Behind the story
Rhobin Courtright asked: “Most novels have an easily understood point to make to the reader. Do your stories ever have more subtle or intuitive themes?” One of my clichés is, you can’t even write a shopping list without revealing your … Continue reading
Elementary, my dear Rhobin
Rhobin Courtright’s homework for her faithful bloggers is, “What elements do you include in your stories to make a story seem and feel more realistic to the reader?” Hmm… There are 118 elements in the current Periodic Table. I had … Continue reading
The unique people in my computer
Rhobin asked: “How do you develop a character who is different in personality from all the other characters you have developed, or from yourself?” The simple answer is: I DON’T KNOW. It’s not as if I were in charge. Here … Continue reading
Editing
Few Americans have heard of my friend Anna Jacobs, but she is highly popular in Australia and Britain. In particular, she is my wife’s favourite author. Anna once said, the time you have edited a book enough is when you … Continue reading
How easy or difficult do you find including humour in your writing?
I keep saying, but people don’t believe me: I am a grumpy old man, and have no sense of humour. Can I help it that people laugh at my writing? That shows their sense of humour, not mine. In olden … Continue reading
What draws you into a story?
I wish I didn’t have quite such a quirky a mind. My immediate reaction is a cartoonist, drawing a funny-looking Bob. This Bob is resisting with all his strength, but has no hope. A rope around his neck is inexorably … Continue reading
No, I won’t jump off the planet
Once a month, I participate in Rhobin Courtright’s round robin on writing. This month’s topic was how politics influences what I write. Well, it STRANGLES MY WRITING! The issue inspired me to write a major essay on how to cope … Continue reading
No, I won’t jump off the planet
Heaven knows, I have plenty of inducement. But there is a reason for being, and continuing, and striving for sanity. Every day, I feel the need to check the news. Every day, I wish I hadn’t. Worldwide, politics has gone … Continue reading
The Obsolete Present
Rhobin Courtright’s topic for her fellow bloggers is “How can contemporary fiction cope with the rapid changes of today’s world?” Last century, this was no problem. While life has always been full of surprises, at least there was an illusion … Continue reading
