Category James L’Etoile
A Voice On The Perfect Character
A perfect character? Have you ever read a story and something just seems, a bit off? There is a decent story line, snappy dialogue and perfect characters. Ah, there’s the rub – perfection. No one is perfect. Ever. Not even a Disney character. I mean think about it. Prince What’s-His-Face, is riding around in the forest […]
Mystery Writer’s Blog Hop
There’s a new blog in town and it belongs to Cindy Brown. I met Cindy at a mystery writer’s conference, where we swapped book pitches over lunch. Cindy’s story is so unique and fresh, I’m willing to say right here and now, that MacDeath, is going to be great. So, look for her novel’s release […]
Are We There Yet?
Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? I remember saying those words and, then later in life, hearing that same phrase over and over and over from the backseat every time we set out on some great adventure. The constant barrage of anticipation became a combination of nails on the chalkboard […]
Do You Have a Writing Spirit Animal?
If you’ve spent ten seconds on any social media feed, then you’ve seen the links to the endless chain of quizzes and personality inventories. You know the ones I’m talking about; What Disney Villain Are You? What Rock Are You Most Like? What Civil War Battle Best Resembled Your Last Family Outing? One that catches […]
I’m An Ostrich
I’m an Ostrich a good deal of the time, with my head in the sand, peacefully oblivious to most of what’s swirling around in the real world. I’m happy here. Don’t pluck with me. In my little Ostrich mind, others do the right thing, are tolerant of one another’s beliefs and keep their flock together. […]
Writers & Addicts
Writers are a weird bunch. For me, and I’m guessing that I’m not alone here, writing is addictive. The more you do, the more the urge to write builds, exactly like heroin. If I can’t chip a little here and there, I’ll start withdrawals, the shakes and hearing voices. Unlike heroin, there is no chemical […]
A Voice on Editing and Ego
Editing a manuscript is one thing you cannot shortcut. The process is direct, personal and, if you’re not ready for it, editing will rip the flesh from your bones, leaving you and your story a quivering mass of gelatin. Like most things in life, I’ve learned this the hard way. You’ve finished a draft of your […]
As Common as a Tramp Stamp in a Trailer Park
Working in and around prisons for years tends to change your outlook on things – and people. And, usually for good reason. Couple that little tidbit of learned behavior with the sick and twisted brain wave patterns of a mystery writer and all bets are off. Any snippet of a conversation overheard in a coffee shop, […]
How To Tell If You’re Burning The Candle At Both Ends
Sometimes, the word fairy takes vacation. When the fickle little trollop leaves me, she never gives the courtesy of a two-week notice. Here one minute – then poof! Gone. It must be a Fairy Union thing, another example of collective bargaining processes gone wild. I pressed on. Mind you, this isn’t an issue of simply […]
A Voice on Finishing What You’ve Started
Have you ever had that moment? That moment when you finish your novel and a dark creeping dread taps you on the shoulder? And all the joy evaporates… I have. Almost every single time. The drafting and writing is done. This should be a happy time – this should be a happy dance time. But, no. […]
James L'Etoile 