The Author Guy Blog by Larry B. Gildersleeve (Feb 25, 2025)
25th February 2025
Hello out there,
Welcome back. My life as a writer and novelist is truly a journey, not a destination, and I have so much to learn and will continue learning as long as I metaphorically put pen to paper. I was a broadcast journalism (radio and television) major for my undergraduate degree, but I’ve had no formal training as a writer or novelist. I do attend an occasional writer’s conference (they’re fewer opportunities since Covid) and listen to as many novelist speak in public as possible. I take notes, either mental or written, and then transcribe them into a Word document I’ve labeled Write Right. It’s my self-created, ever-evolving MFA (Master of Fine Arts) syllabus.
I also have a robust, self-explanatory Word file labeled Words and Phrases to which I refer to constantly when I write, especially to provide more vivid narrative and avoid descriptive repetitions of such things as facial expressions, eye movements and body language. In both books and magazines (my favorite is Garden & Gun because of the wonderful prose of its writers), I seek descriptive sentences or phrases I can adapt in my writing. Here’s an example. I don’t recall the name of the country music song from many decades ago, but I do remember these words: “I just cut myself on a piece of her broken heart.” I have yet to find a place for those evocative words in my writing, but rest assured I will.
If you have such phrases that have resonated in your life such that you’ve remembered them, I would greatly appreciate you sharing.
Until next week … Vaya con Dios
Larry B. Gildersleeve
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