from the blog:

Writing: Getting Back to It

May 23, 2023 | 2 Comments
Writing: Getting Back to It

Almost five weeks ago, I signed off due to some major surgery. I’m still recovering but thought I could put up a few tips on corralling your writing life. Writing Tip for Today: How do you get back to your writing life after life happens? Be There Writers who sit for regular sessions are often […]

Classic Writing Fiction: Summary or Action?

May 9, 2023 | No Comments
Classic Writing Fiction: Summary or Action?

When you’re more than halfway through your story and you reach a critical chapter, do you recap (summarize) or do you act it out? The pace at which your story unfolds boils down to summary vs. action. Writing Tip for Today: Let’s discuss any story’s basic needs at different points of a scene, chapter or […]

Classic: Writing Tension in Every Line

May 2, 2023 | One Comment

Writing tension into every line sounds simple. But when writers struggle with this idea, the results can sink their effort. Writing Tip for Today: What is tension and what is its role in writing? Uneasy Suspense Tension is also called uneasy suspense. Most writers understand that the climax needs tension, but to be effective tension […]

Classic Tips: Scene Writing Must-Haves

Apr 26, 2023 | No Comments

If you write fiction or memoir, your work is more effective when it can tell a story. Stories are more effective when they are largely told in scenes. Writing Tip for Today: What are some scene writing must-haves? Elements Scenes bring a story to life. Readers crave action and want to experience the scene as […]

Writing: How to be Best

Apr 18, 2023 | 4 Comments

To all my faithful readers–I’m a bit nerve-wracked today, as tomorrow I’ll go under the knife in shoulder surgery. My circumstances are a tad unusual–I don’t have the use of my nonsurgical arm, so typing will be difficult for a few weeks while I recover. Writing Tip for Today: Instead of my usual tips, today […]

Writing: How to Define Character Goals

Apr 11, 2023 | 4 Comments

Fiction and memoir writers everywhere grapple with the all-important story question: What does my character want more than anything? Writing Tip for Today: Here are a few tips for defining your character’s main goal: Be the Character Most good actors say they must learn to be inside a character’s skin to be convincing to the […]

LINDA S. CLARE

Linda S. Clare

 Linda has always been a daydreamer, artist and storyteller. In addition to doting on grandbabies, collecting too many cats, gardening and walking on the beach, she loves to write and to help writers develop their skills.

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A SKY WITHOUT STARS

a sky without stars

Frankie Chasing Bear is caught between cultures. She wants to raise her son Harold to revere his Lakota heritage, but she also thinks he will need to learn the white man’s ways to succeed. After the untimely death of her husband, Frankie joins the U.S. Government’s Relocation Program and moves to Arizona. There she begins sewing a Lakota Star pattern quilt for Harold with tribal wisdom sung, sewn, and prayed into it.

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