By Charlotte Carter In every writing class, students are taught to enrich their storytelling skills by using the 5 senses to draw readers into the scene. SIGHT SOUND TOUCH TASTE SMELL Old hat? Hm, not when it’s done right. Look what Lori Wilde, NY Times best selling author, has done with SMELL in one short […]

By Charlotte Carter I’m frequently asked that question. The truth is, story ideas may sneak up on me from almost anywhere. It’s like they’re hanging out in the ether waiting for a chance to be told. The process may start with either a character or a situation that intrigues me. Then I have to put […]

By Lyn Horner Howdy, Y’all. My handle is Lyn Horner. I’m a friend of Sharla Rae’s. We used to belong to a critique group here in Fort Worth, where I hang my hat -- until Ms. Sharla picked up stakes and moved away. Thank goodness email allows us to keep in close touch. Shar and […]

By Charlotte Carter Both Linda Seger (Creating Unforgettable Characters) and Robert McKee (Story) talk about using Image Clusters and Image Systems. Here’s my take on using images. 1. Use images that represent the individual’s character or his values. A wealthy heroine may well wear designer jeans, drive a BMW and have beautifully manicured nails. In […]

D A Watt  I recently came back from making my three day Cursillo, meaning a “little course” for my faith. The first talk I attended, called a rollo, centered around the ideal self.  You see, each of us is composed of two ideals, the false ideal and the true ideal. The false ideal is the dress […]