Just a Sandwich

March 10, 2015October 21, 2016 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 4 Comments

Clara squatted next to the tiny figure, “Sweetheart please eat,” she begged, holding a small section of the grilled cheese sandwich, that only five minutes ago, had been demanded.

Megan, her lips puckered as if stung by bees, crossed her arms, shook her head side to side and shoved the plate away.

Her mother’s temper flared, “I made it the way you wanted, either eat it or go hungry,” she said, scooting the plate back in front of her daughter.

The Wilson’s little darling, the youngest child and only girl in a brew of four rambunctious kids, burst into tears, “You cut the crust off, it’s ruined.”

Clara remembered how hard she prayed for a daughter and softened, dumped the cold sandwich into the trash and prepared to make a fresh one; it was just a cheese sandwich.

Five Sentence Fiction – This Weeks word -Spoiled

Lillie McFerrin Writes – Five Sentence Fiction

Know the Details of Your Story

March 9, 2015October 21, 2016 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 2 Comments

As a nurse with a penchant for all medical fiction, I found the guest post by physician and medical thriller novelist, Richard Mabry, to be another great article on writing with accuracy.

Check it out at CS Larkin’s LiveWriteThrive.com Infusing Medical Details into Your Fiction

Feature Photo Credit: mantuir3 via Compfight cc

“For a number of weeks, we’re running a series featuring professionals sharing tips and expertise in order to help novelists convey accuracy in their fiction. Last week we took a fun, hard look at forensics and dead bodies. If you are writing any scenes that include doctor, lawyers, investigators, or law enforcement officials, be sure to study these posts (and print them out for reference).”

Check it out and be sure to check out CS Larkin’s writing tips, editing and critique services.

Truth is Stranger than Fiction

March 8, 2015October 21, 2016 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / Leave a comment

Photo courtesy of : google & ninelin.es

It’s an old saying that’s inspired many a story. The problem can come, however, when the plot line or a particular scene is unbelievable to the general audience. On the Premises talks about this very thing in their latest newsletter.

A good example is my own background. I spent the better part of my life in the nursing profession. Medical people have a language of their own and, to this day, I still use many medical abbreviations and terminology. It’s second nature to me, a habit and the average person, outside of medicine, don’t understand.

Photo courtesy of: google and pixgood.com

Now, picture the average reader. If I’m going to write a book or story involving medicine, I must be careful to write the story that’s believable and understandable to the general audience of readers. Otherwise, they’ll stop reading and or run for a dictionary. Either way, I’ve pulled them put of the story and most likely lost them as a reader.

Do the necessary homework and research when writing, but be cautious. You don’t want the readers eyes to glaze over from info dumps.

Remember the words of Mark Twain.

“Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t.”― Mark Twain

Thanks to On the Premises for this gentle reminder to keep it real or at least believable when we write. Be sure to check out their website for more writing tips and contests.

What do you think?

Get the Breakdown on Writing a Query

March 4, 2015October 21, 2016 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / Leave a comment

Photo Courtesy of http://www.google.com/info.agmednet.com

Writing a query can almost be as hair pulling as writing a novel, not to mention, revisions. As a newbie, I didn’t have a clue, but in 2012, I was fortunate to win a raffle from The Bookshelf Muse. My prize included a free copy of the book, Keep Calm and Query On, and a free consultation with the author, Luke Reynolds.

Luke was amazing and walked me through the process of writing a query for my work in progress (WIP). After our initial phone consult and numerous emails, I had a finished product; a query for Hello Hell. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to work with Luke.

We don’t always have those types of opportunities, but this week on Query Tracker Blog, Adriana Mather, wrote an excellent post on queries. Breaking Down the Query, covers the inner workings of writing a query, and the best methods to achieve success.

Thanks Ariana, this one I will be keeping in my important file. If you want to know more or find yourself ready for a query, please check this one out.

Breaking Down the Query (the story of a colorful noob getting results)