I’m a sucker for descriptions that help me smell, taste, feel, or otherwise visualize a location. William Kent Kreuger does it better than anyone in his novel This Tender Land, and I tried to capture some of that in my own novel Suddenly Rural Girl. Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson do it well throughout theirContinue reading “Good Descriptions and Figurative Language (Peter and the Star Catchers)”
Category Archives: YA
A Touch of Humor. (Peter and the Star Catchers)
Let’s take a look at a few more passages from Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson in their Peter and the Star Catchers series. These are a few that made me chuckle. The Pearson/Barry combination expertly sneaks humor into passages throughout the novels. I’ll post a few of my favorite quotes from the book here andContinue reading “A Touch of Humor. (Peter and the Star Catchers)”
Physicality in Peter and the Star Catchers
Peter and the Star Catchers, and the subsequent novels by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson are treats, especially for those who fell in love with the story of Peter Pan years ago. It’s the first of their prequel novels, and the Pearson/Barry combination expertly weaves all of the magic and playfulness into a story thatContinue reading “Physicality in Peter and the Star Catchers”
Writing Funny: Rewrite your Joke
I’m nearly done with my comic thriller, The Worst Thing About Sam, I wanted to re-post some of these “Writing Funny” tips I pulled together along the way: Your clever line may be hilarious–but if you tweak it (or twerk it, depending on your audience), it could be funnier. First, and always, consider your audience.Continue reading “Writing Funny: Rewrite your Joke”
Writing Funny: Humor in Any Situation
I’m nearly done with my comic thriller, The Worst Thing About Sam, so I wanted to re-post some of these “Writing Funny” tips I pulled together along the way: Years ago, I taught an acting and film unit called “The Seven Causes of Laughter” and it covered things like Exaggeration, Incongruity, Protection Factor, Relief ofContinue reading “Writing Funny: Humor in Any Situation”
Writing Funny: It’s all about the…
… timing. Got a few more of these “Writing Funny” tips that stood out: Truly, I think this this is what makes writing funny more difficult than performing funny. In a performance, you can hold for a split-second to be sure the audience is following before hitting them with the punchline. Then, you can stop,Continue reading “Writing Funny: It’s all about the…”
The Scent of a Good Story (Peter and the Star Catchers)
Peter and the Star Catchers, by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson is a treat, especially for those who fell in love with the story of Peter Pan years ago. It’s the first of their prequal novels, and the Pearson/Barry combination expertly weave all of the magic and playfulness into a story that explains the magicContinue reading “The Scent of a Good Story (Peter and the Star Catchers)”
Writing Funny: Horror Stories are Easy
I’m nearly done with my comic thriller, The Worst Thing About Sam, so I wanted to re-post some of these “Writing Funny” tips I pulled together along the way: Sad and scary things are universal. Evolution and Emotion have teamed up to make the dark-and-unknown scary and death-and-dying sad. Things that make us laugh isContinue reading “Writing Funny: Horror Stories are Easy”
Writing Funny: Surprise People
I’m nearly done with my comic thriller, The Worst Thing About Sam, so I wanted to re-post some of these “Writing Funny” tips I pulled together along the way: Twists and Reversals are great ways to get laughs–and to scare the daylights out of folks. For the grin, let the underdog overcome the Goliath orContinue reading “Writing Funny: Surprise People”
Writing Funny: Comfort & Affliction
I’m nearly done with my comic thriller, The Worst Thing About Sam, so I wanted to re-post some of these “Writing Funny” tips I pulled together along the way: No one wants to see the innocent child beaten down, but most of us do like too see the tables turned on the bully, so s/heContinue reading “Writing Funny: Comfort & Affliction”
“Her heart and smile… “from The Red Texts Club, by Andrea VanRyken
The Red Text Club starts with real and quirky characters who draw you in…much like this quote does.” Who doesn’t love someone with a heart and smile as big as all outdoors? I do, and I liked this description. The Red Texts Club digs deeply and creatively into the teenage mind—more specifically the minds ofContinue reading ““Her heart and smile… “from The Red Texts Club, by Andrea VanRyken”
Father Elijah: “Social Law vs Natural Law”
When social laws do not obey natural law, society will fight it. It’s why absurdities like suggesting that biological males who “live as” a woman have actually become a woman. Those who honor natural law and understand the importance of applying them to societal laws will, naturally, push back. Two societal examples of that requireContinue reading “Father Elijah: “Social Law vs Natural Law””