No Hot Water Needed

We are currently in the northern part of Nevada. It is so hot here we don't need the water heater turned on to get hot water for showers, washing dishes, etc. Likewise, our society (including our politicians) are so heated up with their own agenda that we have people fighting and killing each other over …

Them Old Cotton Fields Back Home

Well, we are home everywhere we go since we take our home with us. Yesterday we took an excursion into Memphis to see some sights. We got up late due to not being able to sleep well the night before. By the time we got there and found the downtown welcome center it was almost …

Readers of Historical Fiction…

Hi, everyone.  Thank you for joining me today.  As you know, I don't often try to draw attention to myself, but today is an exception. I need the help of my friends and fans.  I just posted the last chapter of Frienemies on Chapter Buzz, where writers can post their works in progress and get feedback.  But …

The Basic Scene Checklist

Thank you so much for sharing this timely advice. Always a good idea to check your work before sending it off. Reblogged from https://kmallanblog.wordpress.com

K.M. Allan

I don’t know about you, but when I write, I don’t really plan.

Sure, I might have an idea of what I want to write about, but generally, I’ll write until something takes shape.

That creative freedom is what I love about writing. It’s also a double-edged sword because you’ve got to somehow make sense of that creative chaos once the words are written.

In the past, I’ve just reversed outlined the first draft and gone on my merry editing way, tweaking things based on my own ideas and feedback from betas.

That worked well for years, when past me didn’t know how to show and not tell, or that her MS was full of unnecessary stage direction.

Now I’ve learned these things and more, I know the difference giving your creativity some structure can make. I’m also no longer worried that analyzing each scene for character arcs…

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Killdeer Nest and Eggs

Killdeer eggs.  Always no more than four. Killdeer can be found in many states and Texas is no exception.  The unusual thing about this bird is they always build their nests on the ground, whether it be rocky, gravel, or grassy.  Notice how the eggs blend in with their environment.  The nest was impossible to …

Sunsets Over The Plains

Sunset after a storm in the northern plains of the panhandle of Texas.  The next photo is a different night but a spectacular sunset (in my opinion) while we were at the Adventure Zipline Park above Palo Duro Canyon. Photos taken by my husband, Thomas E. Dye God's ever-changing creation never ceases to amaze and …

Traveling: Water Conservation

We are now in the area of Santa Fe, NM.  It is called the "Land of Enchantment" with good reason.  The landscape changes from shrub covered knolls, rolling hills, and mountains of purple, terra cotta, and everything in between; from rugged rock to sand, to a mixture of both on the same mountainside in a …

How To Spot And Eliminate Stage Directing In Your Writing

Another great post on what NOT to do in writing if you want to keep your readers interested. Reblogged from https://kmallanblog.wordpress.com

K.M. Allan

When you’ve been writing long enough, you discover what you’re good at.

It might be snapping out witty dialogue, awesome plot outlining, or creating characters so beloved even someone with a black soul would shed a tear at their demise.

You also discover amongst these writing strengths, what your writing weaknesses are. For me, that nemesis is stage directing.

For those unaware, stage directing is when you can’t help but write every single move a character makes. This takes the form of describing everything they see in unnecessary detail and every physical move beyond what’s needed.

So how can you tell if you’re adding essential detail or too much stage directing? If you’re lucky, a beta reader will point it out. It might not feel like luck at the time, and it’ll definitely damage your writing heart (and ego) to hear it, but learning this harsh truth will make…

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Travel Tips: Clogged Drains

This photo was taken in 2001 when my husband's parents took us in their 34' Airstream on a summer trip to Alaska.  They are the ones pictured here. Tips I learned from my sweet mother-in-law:  Don't pull the drain stopper out of the sink when emptying dishwater.  Loosen it so it will catch the food …

ARE WE THIS HUMBLE?

This post is the crux of Christianity. Will we give up our own will to follow the will of our God, and Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? reblogged from https://gcdiaries.wordpress.com

The Godly Chic Diaries

Our Savior was crushed and spit upon….

The king of kings was born to a lowly girl (Luke 1:4) The creator of the universe was swaddled and laid in a feeding trough (Luke 2:7) The first to hear of the birth of the Messiah and come to worship him were mere shepherds (Luke 2: 8-17) Jesus was born to a family too poor to offer the sacrifice of a lamb — so they gave two turtledoves instead. (Luke 2: 22-24) Leveticus 12:6-8)

Are we this lowly. Are we this humble? Or do we believe that we are always entitled to something bigger, better or more than we already have. Are you too prideful to do the unnoticed and embarrassing tasks — like washing the dirty feet of others, hoping they will reciprocate or express their deep gratitude…

Don’t ever become so high that you believe, think or feel, that you…

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4 Reasons To Use Action Beats When Writing

Fabulous yet easy to understand (with examples to show how to implement the tips) tips on writing books or stories that readers want to keep reading.

K.M. Allan

If you’re wondering what an action beat is, you’re not alone. Not too long ago, I didn’t know what it was either.

I’ve since learned it’s an action your character is doing while they’re talking.

Yeah, it’s not exactly an earth-shattering revelation and is something you’ve probably been writing naturally anyway, it’s just now you know there’s an actual name for it.

Not only does this writing trick have a name, it also has four good reasons why you should be working actions beats into your dialogue.

1. Action Beats Break Up The Boring

When an action beat pairs with your dialogue, it breaks up the usual he said/she said monotony of dialogue tags.

Dialogue tag:
“Hi,” Jenny said.

Action beat:
“Hi.” Jenny lifted her hand, waving her fingers in Carla’s face.

Action beats will also break up long passages of dialogue, puts…

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Traveling: The Winds of Canyon, TX

This photo was taken in the state of Washington but the landscape is similar to what we have here at the Zipline Adventure Park in Canyon, TX.  Saturday night, June 1, 2019, we had the worst wind storm ever.  We had straightline winds blowing between70-80 mph on the high plains here.  There are no trees …