Book review up — writers, this one’s for you!

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Good morning, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest book review for you, and today this one’s in a category close to my heart. Today I’m reviewing The Emotional Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression, 2nd Edition by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi. As might be obvious from the title, this isn’t a novel or fiction. It’s for those of us who create fiction, who look forward to spending time in worlds we’ve invented with people only we can see to better explore and explain the human experience.

In other words, writers.

Here’s an excerpt of my review:

Unlike the first edition, this version of The Emotion Thesaurus also comes with a quick primer at the front of the book. Writers will find this little resource handy when they want easy tips about how dialogue can convey emotion and the importance of subtext. They can also come to the front of the book for help with brainstorming new approaches to familiar feelings or how to conduct research into their characters to use emotions to make them three-dimensional.

Find the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Have a wonderful day, readers!

E.R.G.

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This entry was posted in Book reviews, Creative writing, Editing, New books and tagged , , , , , , , , .

The week of love!

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Hello, Write Edge readers! Here we are, in the week of love. I encourage each and every one of you to reach out to someone you love this week and tell them so. It certainly doesn’t have to be a romantic love. The deep-seated caring shared between siblings, parents and children, and even friends can often mean just as much (and sometimes more) as that you share with a romantic partner.

It may seem a little silly to say so, but extend some of that love to yourself too. In this day and age, it’s easy to get discouraged. We hear of atrocities and shenanigans on the news, and we wonder just what it’s all about. What’s the point of making efforts, especially creative ones, if the loudest thing in the world is negativity?

Creative endeavors are needed now more than ever, and that means those of us in creative fields are needed now more than ever. We’re known for our neurotic approach to life: crumbling under self-doubt one moment, puffed up and preening like peacocks the next. This week’s inspirational quote definitely speaks to this:

“You wouldn’t be an artist if you didn’t feel somewhere in your heart that you’re better than everybody else and you’re going to blow them away. ”—T. Coraghessan Boyle

Maybe dialing down the arrogance is a good idea, but hang on to that self-confidence with your fingernails. It’s invaluable. As is love.

To that end, I’ve posted this week’s short fiction. Because it’s a micro piece, I can’t post an excerpt. I can tell you, however, that you can find it on The Write Edge Writing Workshop now!

Speaking of love, Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi, founders of Writers Helping Writers, believe in giving back to the community they love: writers. The second edition of their popular The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression releases next week. I was fortunate enough to receive an advanced reviewer’s copy of the thesaurus. Come back Wednesday to The Write Edge Bookshelf to find out what I thought about it!

Of course, at the end of the week we’ll go back to a feature that so many of you love: Growth Spurts. Find out on Friday on Growth Chart what the kids and I have been up!

Have a wonderful day and week, readers!

E.R.G.

This entry was posted in Book reviews, Creative writing, indie authors, Indie publishing, Kids growing up, New books, Parenting, Parenting challenges, Short stories, Ten-year-olds, twelve-year-olds, weekly fiction, Writing Prompts and tagged , , , , , , , , .

Parenting adventures posted!

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Hello, Write Edge readers! I’ve posted my latest parenting adventures for you. They run along the lines of growing up. Here’s an excerpt:

In all honesty I don’t know what’s making her think of the topic of marriage these days. No doubt, though, that it’s on her mind. Two nights ago, after dinner, she stood up from her chair with a pronouncement.

Read the whole post now on Growth Chart!

Have a lovely weekend, readers, and stay warm and dry!

E.R.G.

This entry was posted in Kids growing up, Parenting, Parenting challenges, Ten-year-olds, twelve-year-olds, Young children.