Margie Lawson Hello Everyone! I’ll SHOW then TELL: “Goodbye LA, G'day Australia.” She wiggled her hips and Beyoncéd into the hall. That fun example was written by multi-Immersion grad Elaine Fraser.   Now I’ll TELL: Allusion is a rhetorical device. It’s a quick reference to a famous person or event that includes the trait. BEWARE: Allusion […]

Margie Lawson Are you in control of your life? Or do you let life control you? You may have expected a blog on writing craft from me. But this time, I decided to use my psychological expertise to help you take charge of your writing life. Many people let the negatives control their lives. They […]

Margie Lawson Hmm…  Cold hard stare. Have you read that descriptor before? Maybe more than once? More than a dozen times? What about variations on these lines: She narrowed her eyes to slits. His eyes popped open as wide as saucers. She scowled. He arched a sardonic eyebrow. What happens when readers read phrases or […]

Margie Lawson Does your real or imaginary writing checklist include: Make Character Descriptions Fresh, Unpredictable, Multi-Powerful? If not, it could. Character descriptions can add power on multiple levels. You can treat the reader to something fresh, something they haven’t read before. You can slip in details that deepen characterization too. Character descriptions provide an opportunity […]

Margie Lawson Clichés pop in a writer's mind as fast as lightning. They cover the bases.  Clichés roll onto your page like gumballs rolling out of a gumball machine. They require no more thought than swatting a fly. They fit like a pair of old shoes. They sound right, look right, feel right as rain. I get a bee […]