My work on Vocal

My stories have been added to Vocal. Drop in and browse. Give a few of the stories "likes." 

He said/she said

 https://thewritepractice.com/a-critical-dont-for-writing-dialogue/

Elmore Leonard said, Never use any word other than “said” as dialogue tags. Why? Try reading the above out loud. The “he exclaimed” and “he admonished” and “she cried” become like a child saying your name over and over. Distracting.

The word “said,” though, is easily ignored. You want the attention focused on the dialogue, not your clever use of verbs. In many cases, it’s good to change up word choice. You don’t want to use “quintessential” or “luminescence” too many times. “Said” is a major exception. Let us tune it out. Please.

Besides, does “exclaimed” or even “whispered” really change how you read the dialogue? Instead, show the emotion with an action. Like this:

“I hate you,” she exclaimed she said, hurling her French book at him. The corner struck him just under the eye. A bright red mark began to rise on his skin.

Books like Twilight can misuse dialogue tags like this because the plot will suck a reader in deep enough they will ignore the distraction.

But just because Stephanie Meyer can do it, doesn’t mean you can.

The Great Gatsby

 After posting A POSSE FOR TEXAS RED yesterday, I began a story about a poor man, inspired by but in no way reflective of THE GREAT GATSBY.

The latest projects

 involve a portrait of my mother and a third Mexican Red story.

As a young man I had my western heroes, mostly in the movies. But my favorite one of all never made it to film that I am aware of. It's Max Brand's Silvertip. I think I read the whole series but it's also possible I missed a few. In my own way, Mexican Red is a tribute to Max Brand and Silvertip. Not a copy by any means. Silvertip was straight-arrow all the way. Red is an outlaw who often does good things. Silvertip may be an inch or two higher than Red, but physically Red is his match. All fun writing. 

I had been letting this blog languish

 Feeding my other three blogs sort of left this, the original one, in the lurch. I will try to do better by it in the future.

WWIII

 WWIII is the backdrop for a new tale. Henry's family is all gone, taken by successive pandemics. He lives in an American city victimized by repeated missile and drone strikes. Some of the great cities are no more. Nuked. Everywhere there are any military installations around the globe and beyond is war. The story begins with Henry sifting through the rubble of a supermarket and finding an unlabeled can, overlooked by preceding scavengers. He finds himself in a struggle with a boy, who wants that even more than Henry needs it.

There is no schedule for when it may appear in my blog of free stories. 

Invaders from Twarr

The version of Invaders From the Shadow Planets of Twarr that I posted on my free blog is not just hard to read; it is in need of some fresh editing. That I have undertaken. When it gets done I will simply switch the new post for the older one. 

A new Mexican Red tale will be added to my Free Stories blog this weekend.

 This short story was fun to write. I hope to do more with this character again.

Quiet Desperation

 The mass of men lead it. I suppose Thoreau meant that quote for women also. Quiet Desperation is the title of the latest tale I am unfolding. It may take a week or two to post it.

HUNTING WASSELNORF

 That's the new shortie. Perhaps half done. About an expedition to get a specimen for a museum on a foreign planet gone wrong.

Latest

 Working on Larry Donovan's Tongue. A fun read. The title derives from Donovan's Brain, a story by Kurt Siodmak. The tale itself is something else. 

Newest short story

 My newest story has no title as yet. It tells us what happens after death, in case anybody has been wondering.