Maggie’s Lesson in Democracy

May 13, 2015October 21, 2016 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 12 Comments

100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups – Week#152 …That’s democracy…

“Mom?”

Nell turned to her thirteen-year-old daughter, Maggie.

“Since we live in a democracy, you know, ‘consent of the governed,’ shouldn’t I get a vote?”

Nell admired her daughter’s spunk. “A vote?”

“I feel like I’m living under autocratic rule with you the self-appointed ruler.”

“I’m your mother and, by law, responsible for you.”

“But…”

“Actually, our democracy is practiced in the form of a republic, which provides checks and balances and an establishment able to thump an unruly mob on its head.”

“Mom!”

“At home, you’re the unruly mob and I’m the check and balances. That’s democracy, sweetheart.”

A Family Affair

May 12, 2015October 21, 2016 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 4 Comments

Photo courtesy of Google and blog.andybrouwer.co.uk

Five Sentence Fiction – Family

Lil’s leg bounced in a non-stop nervous twitch as she stared at the one-way mirror. Shivering, she pulled her sweater tight against the chill of the bare room and wondered who stood on the other side watching.

It’d always been a running joke; if anything happened to Rob, Lil would be the first person they’d scrutinize; especially after they pulled her reading list of true crime and murder from the library.

Rob used to joke she knew 350 ways to kill him and get away with it. If they got hold of her own works of fiction, she might as well kiss the rest of the family good-bye; Rob would have been half right.

Milk Your Potential

May 12, 2015June 21, 2015 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / Leave a comment

What a pleasure it is to share a friend and fellow writer’s success. As a member of the South Carolina Writer’s Workshop (SCWW) Spartanburg’s Chapter, I have known Nan Lundeen for years. I am proud to say I witnessed, through the group, the inception and development of her new book, Moo of Writing.

Nan Lundeen’s new release book, Moo of Writing, is something you will want in your library. It’s full of helpful advice for writer’s at all levels. The book focuses on the writer as a whole person through writing, relaxation, and meditation exercises.I like to call it mindful writing and I encourage you to pick up a copy on Amazon, iBooks, or Nook.

So proud of my friend. I’m happy to say, “I knew her when.”

Anatomy of a Best-Selling Story—Structure Part One

May 8, 2015June 21, 2015 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / Leave a comment

I’m between one of those “by the seat of my pants writers” and a plotter. This is an excellent reminder. No matter what you’re building, foundation and structure matters. Thanks for another great post.

Kristen Lamb's Blog

Structure Matters

Writers must understand structure if they hope to be successful. Yes, it might take five years to finish the first novel, but if we land a three book deal, we don’t have 15 years to turn in our books. Also, in the new paradigm of publishing, writers who produce more content have greater odds of making money at this writing thing.

Understanding structure helps us become faster, cleaner, better writers. Structure is essential to all stories, from screenplays to novels to epic space operas.

Plotters tend to do better with structure, but even pantsers (those writers who write by the seat of their pants) NEED to understand structure or revisions will be HELL. Structure is one of those boring topics like finance or taxes. It isn’t nearly as glamorous as creating characters or reading about ways to unleash our creative energy.