Stephen Lawrence Brayton's Blog (200)

“I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.”

I know what you mean.

Last year, my taekwondo instructor and I discussed his training for his upcoming test for his 7th Degree Black Belt. He mentioned his commitment to practicing his form, a daily exercise routine, and always looking toward the goal. Only recently before that conversation I had begun a new exercise regimen to…

Many moons have passed since I’ve fired up the transporter for an author interview. So this cool March morning, I dust off the controls and zip over to pick up this week’s featured guest. She was a nice change from some of these pushy authors who just take control and don’t let me know where we’re going…

I finish up Will Lavender’s seminar with the last five aspects to plotting the puzzling thriller.

1. Play fair with the evidence. Don’t hide evidence to later be revealed as always having been there.

Don’t cheat. No baseball bat lurking in the corner that you didn’t mention in chapter 3 which shows up in chapter 23. The protagonist has to have all the evidence before the final solution. Mentioning Queen again, he did this with the readers. Before the final couple…

Last week, I expanded a little on Will Lavender's presentation of plot aspects. In the second half of his seminar he focused more on thrillers and the ten aspects of this genre.

1. What’s the large puzzle and what are the smaller pieces/puzzles/evidence?

You have to have the main puzzle – the game played by the murderer and his threat to blow up a major building if he's not paid a…

A late post this week because I was off to Black Belt Camp on Thursday.

Once again, I must admit I didn't write the basic points to this blog. I did, however write the details under each point. This blog is credited to author Will Lavender, who I met at the 2012 Killer Nashville conference. He presented this seminar on plot fundamentals.

I enjoyed this seminar even though I'm a…

“Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.”

At first I thought this was a little insensitive to the dead person's surviving family. Do the grandsons really need to read about grandma getting run over by a reindeer? Then I thought: lighten up, these truths are supposed be light-hearted fun.

With the last truth I discussed how much detail to put into a…

“MapQuest really needs to start their directions on step 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.”

I agree. Actually, I use MSN Maps and always skip ahead to the point in the trip that is unfamiliar. For those of you planning on using any of these programs, they're pretty handy. Take into account, however, how the mapping system is designed. Is it going to give you the fastest route or…

Because I know you've been sitting on the edge of your seat for a week, here's the second part to help those who are planning to attend writing conferences in the future and want to be on a panel.

6. Depart from Your Script. You want to be prepared, but realize that the best panels take on a life of their own. Your notes and any questions you may have been sent ahead of time…

Unfortunately, I can't claim this blog as my own. This was written by a wonderful woman named Beth Terrell who helps out with the annual Killer Nashville writers' conference held every August in...you guessed it, Nashville, TN. In 2012, a week before the conference, she sent along this message to all of the authors scheduled to be on one of the panels. I thought it a wonderful message and one…

I was asked to participate in another of The Next Big Thing. I was recently involved but thought it would be a good opportunity to help promote one of my works in progress. Unfortunately, I am unable to tag other authors, but if anybody would like a future tag or to be highlighted in…

“Was learning cursive really necessary?”

Answer: no.

Harken back to those early years of learning cursive. Why did we learn it? Why was it invented in the first place? You have basic block letters and printing is just as good and even better in some cases for legibility.

Cursive was invented, in part, to save pens. See way back when humans used…

An early post this week as I’ll be away from my computer tomorrow.

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“How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?”

Answer: Only my mother knows.

Actually, and forgive me if I sound sexist, most females know. It’s the same with wrapping Christmas and birthday presents so that all sides are even, no paper is torn and…

Today, I take a step back and allow another writer to share his knowledge and to contribute his words to the sphere of the writing world. Welcome, Paul Rance!

Writers get…

This week, I participate in a group effort called The Next Big Thing. Some of you may be familiar with this and some of you may have participated. I was invited to participate by Chris Swinney and you can read material by Chris and other authors at…

Morning chores. Getting the kids dressed and off to school or other activities. Work. Dentist and doctor appointments. After school activities. Laundry. Meal preparation. House cleaning. Car maintenance. Social time. Shopping for groceries and other essentials. Church. Lawn maintenance. Date night with the spouse or with a new acquaintance. Balancing the check…

“There is a great need for a sarcasm font.”

Why? Because of all those pesky ‘ly’ words we writers aren’t supposed to use, yet every other published author does. Come on, raise your hand if you’ve ever heard some author/agent/editor/writing guru pontificate on how writers should never, ever, ever, use adverbs, especially in dialogue tags. If you do, you risk rejection,…

I think for most people, their vocation or avocation usually derives from personal interest or enjoyment. A person enjoys helping children, so becomes a teacher. Somebody fascinated with ancient history studies to be an archeologist. If you grew up really wanting to solve people’s burning pee issue, then your earned your degree in urology.

For me, writing began because…

“I totally take back all those times I didn’t want to nap when I was younger.”

Actually, these days, I wish I could nap and still have plenty of daylight left when I finally awaken. Or, if I’m really enjoying the night, that it could last longer. Day’s light and night’s dark don’t last long enough to suit my purposes.

Anyway, that’s philosophizing for another…

It's a beautiful Firday morning and I don't even have to take my transporter to meet this week's guest. I can drive to our interview. It's only an hour away in Iowa's capital Des Moines. Downtown on Fourth there is a snazzy little coffee shop called Java Joe's. I've been there many times. They have rick showing through the masonry, a scuffed stage peformers do their…

In a recent taekwondo class I was instructing the students in the single bahng mahng ee form. For those of you who can't read Korean, that is the single stick. The form is lengthy and complex. I've told my students many times (and I apologize to the creator of this form) that I think the single stick is boring. Or rather, I have seen too many times boring forms performed by competitors at tournaments. I…