WRITE TIME AND AGAIN

Feed Your Creativity

Posted on March 1, 2023March 1, 2023 by L. M. Montes

What do we need for nourishment? Food. When we eat food, we feel better. Our body feels sustained. It might also depend on what you eat, but that is neither here nor there. Actually, I’m eating as I write this article (Hahaha, no really). But how do we feed our creativity when we’re trying to think of material for writing a story? I’m not talking about writer’s block. I’m talking about putting some oomph into your story, something that stands out to readers. The answer to this question will vary from individual to individual because we are all different. Below are some ideas on things you can do to wake up your creative mind.

Read books.
Listen to music (I hear classical music is good for this).
Do a craft of some sort.
Put a jigsaw puzzle together. You’d be surprised how much this works.
Create ideas with some one else. Hey, two heads are better than one.
Take a drive somewhere that appeals to your senses.
Look at beautiful photos and imagine yourself inside the picture. Use your senses and describe it.
Take a stroll through a cemetery.
Cook/bake something.
Go to the beach.

Prompts

Not even for a day

Posted on March 1, 2023March 1, 2023 by L. M. Montes

If you could be someone else for a day, who would you be, and why?

There is no one else I’d rather be. I like who I am. I’m happy. Even with everything I’ve been through in my life, I like where I am at in life. I got here through trial, error, and learning. Praise God for leading me through it all.

City Living: Chicago, Illinois, USA

Dialogue

Tag Lines

Posted on February 28, 2023March 1, 2023 by L. M. Montes

In a story in order to determine who is speaking a piece of dialogue, tag lines are used. Notice in the following example the last two lines don’t have a tag line. That’s because one is not always needed once it’s been established who is talking. Generally, a person will do the speaking every other line. So, in this example, it is assumed that Tia is then doing the speaking in line 3 and Sarah is doing the speaking in line 4. If a tag line is added every time someone speaks, the flow of the dialogue sounds odd. BUT, every now and then, throw in a tag line so that readers can keep track of who is speaking. There’s nothing more irritating than having to go back through a long piece of dialogue in order to keep track of who is doing the speaking.

Example: “I don’t like it one bit. It won’t work,” said Tia.
“Sure it will,” replied Sarah. “Trust me.”
“That’s the problem. None of your ideas ever work.”
“They do too.”

Please keep in mind that you don’t always have to use the word ‘said’ when creating a tag line. Here are some options in the list below. There are many many more than what is here. This is just a taste.

replied Tia
responded Tia
stated Tia
whispered Tia
answered Tia
demanded Jack
claimed Susan
asked Bill
agreed Susan
added Susan
admitted Jack
fumed Bill
feared Sally
giggled Jane
indicated Jack
joked Tia
decided Tia

Fiction

To Work or Not to Work by L. M. Montes

Posted on February 28, 2023 by L. M. Montes

The starving mind settles in spring,
with dew drops of knowledge enveloping–
newness takes root, holding tight to growth
as heights strived for lift higher,
reaching then gaining more.
But sitting in a dark room
with emptiness depleting, draining–
sets fire to sprouting mindful leaves
and sucks the soul from deep within,
flushing oneself as winter sets in.