Category Archives: writing

What makes a good book?

Posted on June 24, 2017 by tkflor

“What do you think makes for a ‘good’ book?… Is it too subjective to define or are there specific and universal elements that make up a ‘good’ book? How can you pull the reader in rather than push them away?” … Continue reading →

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Forward and backward

Posted on February 24, 2017 by tkflor

“It was possible to read the story two ways: Front to back, the heron returned to his heron wife and the world of the sky. Back to front, he stayed with his one true love on earth.” From The Third … Continue reading →

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Love between the covers

Posted on November 11, 2016 by tkflor

“The noise was huge. Wherever they stood, sat, or wandered, they talked. Primarily women, he observed, some of them dressed for business, other drooping from travel. And all, he thought, studying the heaped luggage carts, with enough suitcases for a … Continue reading →

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Writers’ advice on self-publishing

Posted on September 24, 2016 by tkflor

There is a lot of advice about writing and self-publishing. A recent tread from the kboards Writers’ Cafe, Time to Hang It Up, tackled the problem of a writer with academic credentials and several years of self-publishing experience, who, despite … Continue reading →

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Love-story vs. Romance

Posted on June 4, 2016 by tkflor

“A lady’s imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, and from love to matrimony in a moment.” from Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen Sometimes when my writing is stuck, my thoughts meander into such “philosophical” questions … Continue reading →

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Engineering Characters

Posted on May 20, 2016 by tkflor

“Miss Havisham had told me about Generics. They were created here in the Well to populate the books that were to be written. At the point of creation they were simply a human canvas without paint – blank like a … Continue reading →

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Sophomore novel – trying to recapture first love, or finding a second one?

Posted on April 21, 2016 by tkflor

“The problem with a second novel is that it takes almost no time to write compared with a first novel. If I write my first novel in a month at the age of 23 and my second novel takes me … Continue reading →

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He or She – some confusion about authors’ gender

Posted on March 4, 2016 by tkflor

“Kawasaki Ninja,” said Wardle. “I know we’re looking for a Honda,” he added, forestalling Strike,“but he crapped himself when we came calling.” “So do most people when CID turn up on their doorstep. Go on.” “He’s a sweaty little guy, … Continue reading →

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NaNoWriMo and a dreadful first-draft

Posted on January 30, 2016 by tkflor

“Stories are relics, part of an undiscovered pre-existing world. The writer’s job is to use the tools in his or her toolbox to get as much of each one out of the ground intact as possible. Sometimes the fossil you … Continue reading →

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Benjamin Franklin’s birthday

Posted on January 16, 2016 by tkflor

Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky, picture by Benjamin West “If all printers were determined not to print anything till they were sure it would offend nobody, there would be very little printed.” Benjamion Franklin, Apology for Printers (1730).

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