Owen Lovejoy plays a significant role in my Lincoln novel. He appears in several scenes, but in the chapters I’ve been working on recently, he becomes more intimately involved in what is happening. While tensions rise and the trheat to his brother grows more intense, Owen moves among those gathering against them, watching, listening, spying.Continue reading “Owen Lovejoy and the Underground Railroad”
Tag Archives: drama
Writing Historical Fiction When Voices Are Not Recorded
This week I’ve begun revising Chapter 9 of my Lincoln novel, where the tension continues to escalate and the danger surrounding Lovejoy becomes more direct. As the threats gather and those around him begin to organize for defense, I realized that something important was still missing from the chapter. I need to write a sceneContinue reading “Writing Historical Fiction When Voices Are Not Recorded”
Choosing the Next Edward Bryant Story for Publication
I received a wonderful response in the Friends of Ed Facebook group to question I had asked about which of Ed’s stories to publish next. Instead of selecting just one, the author suggested several for different reasons. While She Was Out was mentioned as a strong hard-boiled crime story. giAnts was suggested as one ofContinue reading “Choosing the Next Edward Bryant Story for Publication”
How Participating in a Writers Group Helps Shape a Historical Novel and Career
Gatherings like this were common in Lincoln’s time, when ideas and arguments were often tested in small rooms before they reached a wider audience. At writers group today I read another chapter of my Lincoln novel and received several helpful suggestions. After the reading we talked about something writers often wonder about–how books actually findContinue reading “How Participating in a Writers Group Helps Shape a Historical Novel and Career”
Choosing the Next Story
Soon I will be doing this for both Ed and I’s work, but today I’m talking about Ed. This week I’ll begin rereading several of Ed’s stories to decide which one should be next for publication. I asked the Friends of Ed group for suggestions, but in the end, the decision rests with me. That’sContinue reading “Choosing the Next Story”
The Work of Refinement
It’s a quiet week in my world. A relief after the hustle of my week off work. Traveling There are no announcements, no finished chapters, no visible milestones. What there is, instead, is refinement. Tomorrow I’ll be revising Chapter 7 in preparation for reading at Scribes. Reading aloud is an important tool. It clarifies rhythm,Continue reading “The Work of Refinement”
Courtroom Dramas
As you know I’ve been having a slow go of finishing the rough draft of my novel. I got to the first of two courtroom scenes at the end and found they just didn’t hold the reader’s interest. They interested me because it is the conclusion of the events I’ve been writing about, but IContinue reading “Courtroom Dramas”