Come for the Mysteries. Stay for the Characters.
One thing I enjoy about visiting new places is analyzing the mood of a setting. Of course, the mood I bring to a location will affect how I perceive it, but I also try to examine the “vibe” a place gives off, independent of how I’m feeling at the time. For example, I visited a… Continue Reading →
Settings are the ugly ducklings in the world of literary elements. They aren’t appreciated for how rich they can make a story. But some writers can’t begin a story without first finding the right setting. Maybe you want to start a story with a setting, but that’s as far as you’ve gotten. How can you… Continue Reading →
Full disclosure: I don’t read romance. So it may seem strange for me to offer advice on writing stories about Valentine’s Day. But if you think of Valentine’s Day as a holiday that honors all kinds of loving relationships, then the day offers much more inspiration for stories. I discovered this when I wrote my… Continue Reading →
For the past sixteen years, we have lived across a road from a river and a creek that flows into it. Although I haven’t used rivers as writing inspiration in my mystery series yet, rivers provide so much potential as symbols and plot points that they shouldn’t be overlooked. Crossing Rivers Crossing rivers throughout history… Continue Reading →
Some of my favorite experiences in nature occurred on clear nights with a full moon. If you haven’t been out on a night like that, with no artificial light nearby, I highly recommend finding an opportunity to do so. Artificial lights dampen or kill the wonders of a full moonlight and your ability to use… Continue Reading →
JPC Allen Writes