Many fiction writers say that a story’s ending is the most difficult part to write. Below are 10 possible ending lines for a piece of fiction. Pick one, adjust it however works best for you, and then write a story with those words as the closing. We had come so far, but there was yet a long way to go. She thought I’d forgiven her; she was wrong. They had just settled in for the night when the door creaked open. It can’t be, thought Miriam, but there stood David, his face scarred, his …
Favorite Daughters: Path to Publication #2
One thing I've learned from years of self-publishing my novels, is that selling books is HARD, especially if you don't have a big name publisher, like Random House or Penguin, to display on your cover. When Kindle Press published The Standout, I thought I had it made. An Amazon publisher was publishing my book! It was great and all, but I didn't realize that I would have to work just as hard, if not harder, on self-promotion. I flubbed my book launch and never recovered. I am …
My Birthday Present to Myself
“Reading is the sole means by which we slip, involuntarily, often helplessly, into another’s skin, another’s voice, another’s soul.” – Joyce Carol Oates We're all allowed a little self-indulgence on our birthdays, right? I decided to treat myself and created the image above, with my most recently published novel alongside a quote from the literary giant, Joyce Carol Oates. What she says captures exactly how I feel about reading, and I always try to explain the same sentiment to my students. I …
Creative Writing Prompt: Using Legends, Myths, or Fairytales
Writing Prompt: Use a legend, myth, or fairytale as a starting point, and write your own story where you try any or all of the following: change the time/location of the story, switch the genders of the main characters, write it only in dialogue, write it without any dialogue, write the entire thing in one long sentence. I'm using a legend from Treasury of Folklore, Seas, and Rivers by DeeDee Chainey and Willow Winsham as a basis for my own story. It's about a pink river dolphin who …
The Swimmer: Analysis and Study Questions
In Neddy, John Cheever created a truly delusional man who suffers from selective amnesia while he imagines himself to be great. Neddy lives in what should be a suburban paradise, but in the superficial McCarthy-era world of deceit, materialism, and broken promises, nothing is as Neddy wants to believe it is. Even the weather eludes him. There are hints of autumn everywhere, but Neddy believes it is still summer. Yet, he takes pleasure in the possibility of a coming storm. …