Write what you know. This mantra is drummed into the heads of writers, especially those of us at the start of our careers. But today I’m writing about what I don’t know—poetry. Specifically turning to poetry to make my fiction come alive with music. I’ve been intrigued with this idea since I read This Year You Write Your Novel, an instructional and motivational book by Walter Mosley. Yes, that Walter Mosley, prolific writer in many genres and best-known as creator of the best

Good dialogue is critical to a book’s success. During my thirty-five-years as a nonfiction and fiction writer, I’ve learned a good deal about this topic, mostly from editors and members of my superb critique group. Here are some problems I used to have, but don’t have any longer—or not too much, anyway! 1. Effective use of dialect can indicate a person’s educational, ethnic, or geographic background, but its overuse can turn off your reader fast—just have a look at Robert Lou

I sold my first book in 1999 and have been fortunate to write in several genres including historical romance, short romantic suspense, suspense and women’s fiction. Along the way, I discovered that all stories, regardless of the genre, benefit from a little mystery or suspense. I’ve picked up several techniques that I think could help any story. Begin with a bit of mystery. Can you foreshadow impending trouble in the first line of your novel? You don’t have to spill the

Fiona - Tina you've visited with us before talking about your job as a paralegal and you mentioned preparing a client for the stand. Let's start with - is it typical for a defendant to want to take the stand? What issues might be part of that decision making process? Tina - Thanks for having me back. When it comes to preparation for trial, most will want to testify. However, should it become apparent that they plan to lie on the stand, the attorney has a duty to not all