M.A. Kropp: Writer, Blogger, GeekGirl. My Life. My Words. My Way.
I have been having a bit of trouble with my knee lately. It started a few weeks ago, but we were having a full week of rain at the time, so I wrote it off to arthritis acheys. Then, the weather turned cold and I thought: Yeah, well that's what happens when the joints get … Continue reading Monday Musings: Knee Bummer and NaNoWriMo Progress
Oh, yes, the annual frenzy of National Novel Writing Month has begun. Yes, I am participating this year, but not for writing a novel. I am using this month to keep me focused on developing an idea I had for a YA fantasy. There will be writing done. There has already been some. But I … Continue reading Monday Musings: NaNoWriMo is Upon Us
It's at the center of every story. It is the thing that drives the action forward. It's what causes the characters to act and react. What is it? Conflict.Conflict arises when a character wants something and there are obstacles in the way of his getting that thing. It can be big (the hero must stop … Continue reading Wednesday on Writing: Conflicted
Well, for me at least, it looks something like this: Yes, I do my revising, at least the first pass, on paper. It seems to help me if I can mark on, scribble notes, cross out, highlight, and rewrite sentences on an actual piece of paper. Later passes will probably get done on the computer, … Continue reading Wednesday on Writing: What Does Revision Look Like?
Oh, yes, there is a definite chill in the air these last few days, especially in the morning. We've dipped into the mid-30s overnight already, and the mornings are, if not really cold, at least requiring a light jacket for walking the dog. We've had some gray and rainy stuff but also those deep blue … Continue reading Monday Musings: The Times, They Are A-Changing
I have been busy for the last year writing the third installment of my urban fantasy series. The first draft is now done, and I am letting it sit for a while before I dive into the revision process. I do this with most of my writing, and many other writers do, as well. Why? … Continue reading Wednesday On Writing: Should You Start Revising a Story as Soon as You Finish a Draft?
I don't often make recommendations about who to follow on social media, but this is one I think everyone would enjoy and benefit from.Tim Cotton is a sergeant in the Bangor, Maine police department. He writes the Bangor PD facebook posts also, where he mainly chronicles the visitors to the department's Duck of Justice, a … Continue reading Monday Musing: Follow This Fellow On Facebook
It's been busy around here for the past few weeks. Mostly traveling with a bit of other stuff tossed in there just to keep me busy. The traveling is done until the back half of October, but we have some stuff going on this weekend (including our grandson's eighth birthday party. He's 8? Wow!). After … Continue reading Tuesday Thoughts: Settling Down For a Bit
Remember high school writing classes? One of the first assignments was always to define the theme in what you were going to write. We still see theme mentioned in book reviews, in blurbs and book descriptions, and in discussions about books. So, what exactly is this theme thing and do you need to worry about … Continue reading Wednesday on Writing: What is Theme and Do I Need One?
Boy, they seem to be rolling by fast, don't they? Of course, we were out of town for seven days, four of them on the road, so things are a bit disrupted in my brain right now. We also had the BaldMan needing to have a detached retina reattached and of course, he can't drive … Continue reading Monday Musings: And Another Week Bites the Dust
