There are thousands of websites out there for writers, and Writer’s Digest publishes the top 101.  I’ll share a few that have come in handy for me, or are on my list of resources “just in case.”

nanowrimo.org (to challenge your creativity)

ourecho.com (to share your stories)

writingfix.com (writing prompts)

copyright.gov

grammarbook.com

sfwa.org/beware (avoid scams)

aaronline.org (Assoc. of Author Reps)

writersweekly.com (great tips)

absolutewrite.com (great resource)

fundsforwriters.com (excellent market list)

writersmarket.com (another great market list+)

writersdigest.com

sfwa.org (sci-fi)

freelance-zone.com

coffeetimeromance.com

booktour.com

authorsden.com

Feisty Family Values is in print! I have several events coming up, so I hope you’ll be able to come to one of them.  

March 18, Thursday: Watermark Books, Douglas & Oliver, Wichita, KS 7:00 PM (reading and signing)

March 20, Saturday: Barnes & Noble, Bradley Fair, Wichita, KS 2-5:00 PM (signing)

April 3, Saturday: Border’s Books, 21st & Maize, New Market Square, Wichita, 1-3:00 PM (signing)

One of the biggest challenges a writer faces is how to write realistic dialog.  Often times people talk in fragments, interupt each other, and finish each other’s sentences.  So how do you write that in a story?  One word at a time.

The key to good dialog is good listening skills. I took a playwriting class in college and one of our assignments was to go to a public place (restaurant, the mall, bookstore) and eavesdrop.  It was great fun having permission to eavesdrop, because my folks didn’t approve of that when I was growing up.  The rest of the assignment was to write it down and develop a story around it in play format.  It worked. I listened and it peaked my imagination as well as my curiosity.

Writing a play, which is basically all dialog, is much different than writing a novel.  But the dialog element is the same.  Write with honesty and a clear voice. If the character wouldn’t curse, then don’t put it in your dialog. Write the words you hear your character saying as if they are talking aloud to you.  Listen carefully to their phrasing and intonation. If they speak in clipped tones, then the dialog should be short, clipped sentences.  If they tend to drone on a bit, then write longer more descriptive sentences in keeping with the character.

The next time you’re in a crowded restaurant, listen to a piece of the conversation going on at the table beside you.  Write it down.  When you get home, write a story around it. It’ll be a fun learning experience.

Hi everybody.  I just wanted to say that Feisty Family Values is currently available at Watermark Books & Cafe and Lucinda’s in Old Town, Wichita. So, if you live in or near Wichita, please pick one up at one of these wonderful vendors.  These are two of my favorite places to shop so I’m thrilled that they have my book in stock and thank them for their support.

You can also order Feisty Family Values on-line from Borders.com, Barnesandnoble.com, and Amazon.com.

My first book signing is coming up soon, March 18th at Watermark and March 20th at Barnes & Noble Bradley Fair.  Both stores have put a blurb about the event on their web sites, plus there is a detailed list of appearances under “Calendar of Events” on this web site (right menu, about half way down).  Very cool.  Barnes & Noble have Feisty Family Values on order now.

I’m looking forward to seeing you at one of my appearances. Thank you for your interest in Feisty Family Values, I hope you enjoy the story.