Life’s tides sneak unseen
as meditations meld my mind,
passive, I remain,
a wind’s breeze feathers a scent
of sweet roses, walking by,
yet passive to the tides
of life as they wave good bye.
Tag: Writing
Goodness by L. M. Montes
Issues spatter all around,
leaving a mind struck, not sound,
tis a guide to dullness feed,
for goodness one does want and need,
hoe the dirt and human weeds
and find the sprouts of mustard seeds
lifting tall and growing delight,
a faith in all that’s good and bright.
Beginning a Scene (Part II)
I posted on October 22, 2021 an article about beginning a scene with action. Continuing that, we move to beginning a scene by creating a question in the reader’s mind. This doesn’t mean the author asks a question in the first paragraph. All it means is the situation at the beginning of the scene is done in such a way that the reader must continue reading in order to find the answer to what the information at the beginning of the scene is hinting. See the example below.
Example
Dan did a double take as he glanced up at two women, a blond and a redhead, entering the club. He’d seen the blond female before but couldn’t place her. Maybe she was only a face in the crowd. A nudge on his right shoulder interrupted his thoughts.
“Hey,” said Dwayne with growing impatience. “You join in the rest of the gang or what?”
“Yeah, yeah.” Dan turned back to the two women, but they’d disappeared. Shooting a glance in each direction proved fruitless. He ran outside and peered in each direction to no avail.
The rest of the evening, though full of laughter all around, continued to plague him as his thoughts returned to the blond.
The reader is left with a couple of questions:
1. Who is the blond woman?
2. Why is she so important?
There is enticement here. One wants to continue reading to find out who she is and what is the situation behind his familiarity of her. No action is really needed here. Although, one could easily add some to increase the velocity of the story pace.
Tuned Out by L. M. Montes
Talk is words,
nothingness pushed forth,
ears hear sound,
but words not profound.
A rain so dull,
no growth it brings
from what you are saying
as I sit and start praying.
Joy I could feel,
if all remained quiet,
but droning of sound
continued as underground.
A hand pushed up,
your words to stop,
and silence ensued
as your words ran askew.
Campfire by L. M. Montes
Pine needles gather as pines tend to scatter
when dry invades the dew,
on trails I saunter,
over and yonder,
to a campfire and a lingering you.
As an ebony sky flicks on its lights,
and fires die then smoke,
your hand touches gentle
the side of my temple,
when I lay my head just right.
Upgrade
What do you want to learn? What interests you? Do you ever know all there is to know about what you do know? Lifelong learning. That’s where it’s at. One of the areas that interests me the most is writing fiction. Even though I write a lot, doesn’t mean I know all there is to know about it. I am always eager to know more. So I look at what others do and take my cue from them. I can use that to come up with my own tricks, so can you. I enjoy reading books about writing. Even though I am published, I still yearn to know more.
But, know this. Take what you learn and make it your own. What works for others might not work for you. I learned this lesson early on years ago. I found that a combination of methods works for me.
Whatever it is you enjoy doing, continue to learn about it. Be a lifelong learner of what you do. Continue to upgrade what you enjoy.
Moody Weather by L. M. Montes

Eyes sagged in droop
when rain tapped the roof,
the sun is high up in the sky
and covered by clouds loop.
My happy mood had parted
when from the clouds rain darted,
Sun’s arms though breached as they reached
and now gray skies departed.
Dare I by L. M. Montes
Dare I say walk away,
or dare to fight with fists upright,
whate’er I do one will not like,
and come to me with verbal strike,
you I do please not,
tis my sense on the spot,
but a snare you do fix,
in hopes you’ll get your kicks,
But I have sense,
I’m not that tense,
My peace is of mind,
So to you I may be kind,
and move to walk away,
but instead fight today,
A mood that is so rare,
Fight? Do I dare?
Wielding Words

Your pen (or keyboard) is your sword, and the words are the blood that’s shed as a result of wielding your words onto the page. Words have impact. It doesn’t matter what that impact is. Whether they create horror, harshness, love, peace, or fear; they have impact. You are the person in charge of creating that impact. So what kind of thrust to you want to use to create that impact?
You can make something everyday appear abnormal, or you could choose something abnormal or bazaar to appear normal or everyday. It’s all in the words you choose. How you wield your words is up to you. It’s your story, your voice, your personality. Write the words you want to write the way YOU want to write them.
Types of Conflict (Part 6): Person vs. Supernatural
This is when the main character finds himself/herself going up against a vengeful god/being or other supernatural force. A ghost comes to mind here.
Who hasn’t read a good ghost story or seen a spooky movie? This conflict deals with man versus something other worldly. Yes, that means ghosts/spirits. The Amityville Horror Movies are great examples. Do you like ghost stories? I do. To a point. I’d rather watch one that read one though.
Book Examples with Man vs. Supernatural Conflict
1. Seven Sisters (book series) by M. L. Bullock (I highly recommend this series).
2. The Amityville Horror
3. Prodigal by Judy K. Walker
4. The Vanished Series by B. B. Griffith
5. The Ripper by Jon F. Merz