Whether you are new to writing or have been around the block a few times, you've probably heard the writers' mantra: "Show, don't tell." Unfortunately, most how-to books don't do a very good job of explaining exactly how to go about showing rather than telling.
Holly Lisle recently created a terrific little video demonstrating the "show, don't tell" maxim in action. She walks viewers through the process using before-and-after examples to improve a sample piece of writing. If you enjoy this video, check out her Writer Crash Test site for more videos about writing.
There's something exciting about getting a gun for your birthday. Cold, hard steel molded into a sleek and deadly form. What's not to like?
Some women prefer clothes and jewelry. I am not one of those women.
For my birthday, Larry hooked me up with the perfect gun for concealed carrying — a Ruger LCP, ultra-light and compact enough to slip into a pocket.
I already own an H&K USP Compact .40 pistol, which I love and would recommend to anyone, but it's a bit too heavy to carry every day. It's also too bulky to conceal easily, especially here in hot, sunny Florida where a jacket or overcoat would look conspicuous. I wanted something smaller and lighter, and the LCP is a perfect fit.
I'm not a weapons fanatic and not a violent person by any means, but the time I've spent practicing at the firing range has helped me gain a better understanding of firearm safety and usage, which in turn gives me a stronger foundation for writing stories with gun-toting characters.
Over the past couple of years, Larry and I have unintentionally established a tradition of giving weapons to each other for [click to read more...]
