C. Asyndeton is the omission of conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses, in a list of items. Using ‘and’ before the last item in the list tends to emphasize that last item. Omitting ‘and’ at the end of the list implies to the reader that the list is endless. Mangy liked bananas, sausages, pickles, potato… Continue Reading
To Darkness Fled: Chapter One
What do you mean she’s gone? Vrell Sparrow smiled at Esek Nathak’s sharp tone. She’d been hoping to intrude upon this moment. She twisted the false prince’s silk sleeve in her hands and held her breath, thankful she’d kept the scrap of fabric. Personal items made it easier to look in on someone’s mind like… Continue Reading
USING RHETORIC: Anaphora & Amplification
Rhetoric is the art of using language. As you write, you use words to tell a story. Your goal as a writer should be to do that in a way no other writer does. Style is learned over time by reading, studying the work of others, and practice. Studying rhetoric is a great way to… Continue Reading
Hungry for a Good Book? Try Hunger Games
Sorry I haven’t been posting in the past month. The edits on book two took over my life! To Darkness Fled is over 600 pages, and editing it was no easy task. Now my editor has the novel again, and I have a few days to get caught up on other things before the book… Continue Reading
Medieval Facts: Lighting, part two: Torches
Have you ever tried to start a fire from plain old wood? It’s not so easy and certainly wouldn’t burst into flame like the torch in this picture. At the start, anyway. Torches were more than sticks. They were made from branches or sticks of wood, preferably green or wet wood to prevent the fire… Continue Reading
Medieval Facts: Lighting, part one
Let’s face it, if you’ve ever been to a rural area at night, out in the woods, far away from any buildings, it’s dark. Especially if it’s a moonless, cloudy night. So how did people see before electricity was invented? I grew up in Alaska in a home without electricity. In the summer, it stayed… Continue Reading
Isle of Swords by Wayne Thomas Batson
Review by Jill Williamson Captain Declan Ross is a pirate, but he wants out. He’s a good man who wants a stable life for his daughter. But Ann Ross wants nothing more than to be a pirate like her dad. While the ship stops for repairs, Ann finds an injured boy on the beach. He’s… Continue Reading
Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
Review by Jill Williamson Miri and her family live on the slopes of Mount Eskel, a village that survives by pounding linder stone from the mountain. Miri dreams of working alongside her family and friends in the quarry, but she is not allowed, she believes because she is too small. Then a message arrives from… Continue Reading
THE ART OF DESCRIPTION, PART THREE
3. Setting the Stage Some new writers mistakenly believe that description is “telling.” Some just forget to put it in. That is easy to do when you, the writer, can see the story in your head. But a good writer must write in a way so that the reader can see what is in the… Continue Reading
Which By Darkness Hid character are you?
Check this out! Two of my friends made me a By Darkness Hid Facebook quiz as a Christmas present. Wasn’t that thoughtful? They are totally creative. Thanks Jacob and Chris! If you’re on Facebook, click on the link below to take the quiz. I just took the “Which By Darkness Hid Character are you?” quiz… Continue Reading
Green by Ted Dekker
Review by Jill Williamson In Green, Thomas Hunter’s son, Samuel, challenges the way Thomas has been leading the Circle. He thinks they should wage war on the Horde and calls into question Elyon’s existence. Thomas does all he can to prove the truth to his son, but one thing leads to another and circumstances put… Continue Reading
Tired of Twilight? How about this? LOL
I thought this was really funny. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9GjvwFH15Q]